TROY, Ala – The South Alabama men's basketball team fought hard and had a strong night shooting from behind the arc, but it was not enough as they fell to Troy 83-79 Saturday night in Trojan Arena. The Jags dropped to 10-11 on the year and 3-6 in Sun Belt play, while Troy improved to 13-8 this season and 7-2 in conference play. 

South Alabama had four players finish with double digits in scoring. Tyrell Jones fueled the Jags for the second game in a row, finishing with 19 points, six rebounds, three assists, and three steals. Thomas Howell earned a new season-high in scoring with 18 points on 2-of-3 shooting from behind the arc and five rebounds.

 Marcus Millender logged 16 points on a perfect 3-for-3 from downtown, two rebounds, and a steal. Elijah Ormiston finished with 15 points, six rebounds, and two assists. 

The Jags shot 11-for-21 from three-point range,  and Millender and Judah Brown shot a perfect 3-for-3 from downtown. 

Troy owned the paint, scoring 40 points compared to the Jags' 24 points. They also won the rebounding battle 42-33. 

Game Facts (How it Happened)

• The Jaguars opened the game on fire as Howell drained a triple and a jumper, and Ormiston knocked down a three-pointer and drew contact for a four-point play to help give the Jags a 9-5 advantage at the 17:35 mark. 
• South Alabama extended its lead to 14-9 after Howell rattled in a pivoting hook shot, and Ormiston sunk a corner triple to keep the Jags in front with 15:42 on the clock. 
• Troy launched on a 9-1 spurt to take a 25-17 advantage with 10:56 left in the half. 
• South answered with three-pointers from Jones and Brown to cut the deficit to 31-28 with 7:30 remaining in the half. 
• The Trojans closed the half on a 10-5 spurt and took a 40-34 advantage into halftime. 
• Troy came out of the half locked in, leaping out onto a 9-4 spurt to stretch its lead to double figures 49-38 with 14:46 left in the game. 
• South Alabama responded with two three-pointers from Millender and a pair of Howell free throws to pull the Jags within three points, 49-46, with 13:21 remaining in the game. 
• The Trojans rocketed back out to a double-digit lead off a 15-8 run to take a 64-54 advantage with 8:18 on the clock. 
• The Jags jumped back within three points after Jones knocked down back-to-back buckets and Howell sank a triple to make the score, 66-63 with under six minutes left. 
• Troy pushed its lead back out to 73-65 with 3:17 remaining in the game. 
• Millender splashed a jumper, and Jones hit an And-One to trim the Trojans lead to 75-72 with 1:19 remaining. 
• South Alabama fought hard down the stretch but couldn't claw back, and Troy secured a 83-79 victory. 

Notes

• Jones led the Jags in scoring for the second game in a row and the fifth time this season. He also led South in points (19), rebounds (6), assists (3), and steals (3). 
• South Alabama recorded its second highest three-point percentage of the season, shooting 52.4 percent.  
• Ormiston logged his third game in a row with double digits in scoring. 
• Isiah Gaiter has finished without double figures in scoring in back-to-back games. 
• The Jags got significant production from its bench, totaling 25 points compared to Troy's 18 points. 
• South held the Trojans to 26.7 percent from behind the arc. In both matchups this season, the Jags have held the Trojans to 30.0 percent or under from three-point range.  
• Howell recorded his sixth double-figure game of the year. 

Up Next

The Jags will continue their road swing next week at Texas State on Thursday, Feb. 1 at 7 p.m. before closing the road trip at Louisiana on Saturday, Feb.3 at 7 p.m.