Box Score TROY, Ala. ? Troy (6-8, 1-2) went 13-of-28 from three-point range on Sunday afternoon and rode 22 points a piece from O'Darien Bassett and Richard Chaney to an 82-70 win over UALR (7-8, 2-2) at Trojan Arena. Bassett scored 17 of his 22 points in the first half to give Troy control early on and lead the home team to its first league win of the year.
Senior Rashad Jones-Jennings posted a 19-point, 14-rebound double-double in the loss, reaching double figures in rebounds for the seventh-straight game. Junior Corey Johnson provided a spark off the bench by scoring a career-high 14 points off a 5-of-9 shooting effort (4-of-8 from three-point range).
In addition to its effectiveness from outside, Troy was able to earn 26 trips to the foul line on Sunday, converting 19 attempts for a .731 shooting percentage, while committing just eight turnovers. UALR meanwhile, made just nine trips to the foul line and attempted a season-high 26 three pointers in the loss ? hitting nine treys for a .346 percentage.
Trailing 27-26 with 4:17 remaining in the first half, Troy knocked down three-consecutive three pointers (with one from Sammy Sharp, Boo Ramsey and Chaney) to take the lead for good. Troy led by eight at the half, 40-32, thanks in part to a 7-of-16 effort from long range over the first 20 minutes.
UALR pulled within eight points, 47-39, with 16:41 on the clock in the second half, but Ramsey answered with back-to-back three pointers to extend Troy's lead to 14 points, 53-39. Down 68-49, UALR heated up from outside, hitting a three pointer on four of its next five possessions to pull within eight points, 71-63, following a trey from Johnson with 4:33 remaining. The Fayetteville, N.C.-guard hit three of the team's four treys during the 12-3 run, with sophomore Lekheythan Malone accounting for the other triple. UALR was unable to get any closer though, as the team misfired on its next five field goal attempts.
Bassett's hot hand carried Troy at the start of the game, as the junior guard scored 15 of the team's first 19 points by hitting six of his first eight shots (with two three pointers). A jumper by Bassett gave Troy a 19-15 edge with 10:27 to go, before Jerome Odem extended Troy's lead to seven points, 22-15, with a three pointer.
Junior Terrance Akins brought the Trojans back into the game by scoring eight-straight points, off a jumper and two three pointers. Down one, 26-25, senior Byron Ray converted a layup then sank a pair of foul shots to give the Trojans a 27-26 lead (their last of the game). Troy responded with three-unanswered three pointers and never trailed again.
UALR enjoyed a +10 rebounding edge on Sunday behind Jones-Jennings' game-high 14 boards. The nation's leading rebounder increased his average to 12.7 boards per game in the loss. The Trojans racked up 12 assists on the day, with freshman Steven Moore and sophomore Buddy Harding tallying four a piece.
UALR returns to action on Thursday, Jan. 4 when it takes on North Texas at 7:30 p.m.
