Troy downs Georgia Southern 61-52

Troy moved to second place in the Sun Belt with its 61-52 win over Georgia Southern in Statesboro Saturday. Following the nine-point victory, the Trojans have won three straight games and hold a 16-7 record with six games remaining on the regular season slate. 

On Saturday, the Trojans were led by star forward Efe Odigie, who finished with 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the floor. In 31 minutes, Odigie had three rebounds and an assist to go along with his team-high 12 points.

Duke Miles added 11 on 2-of-4 shooting, but led the Trojans in assists with eight. Miles also went 2-of-4 from beyond the arc, and helped to extend the lead for the Trojans late in the game. Zay Williams finished the game with 10 points and four rebounds.

Georgia Southern was led by Elijah McCadden with 13 points on 6-of-13 shooting off the bench. Kaden Archie also came off the bench and scored 11 points. All five of Georgia Southern’s starters were held under 10 points.

Troy started the game on a 13-2 run before Georgia Southern began to consistently make shots. Still, the Trojans held a commanding 32-19 lead with 2:36 left before halftime.

Georgia Southern struggled to keep it close, and Troy led 35-23 at the break. Odigie scored 10 of his 12 points in the first half.

The Trojans allowed the Eagles to get back into the game in the second half. Nearly three minutes in, Georgia Southern tied the game at 37. With 12:35 left, Archie made a layup that gave the Eagles their first lead of the game.

As Southern attempted to keep it close, the Trojans hit clutch shots from beyond the arc to extend the lead. With 6:59 left, Kieffer Punter hit a shot from long range and gave the Trojans a 49-43 lead.

With clutch free throws down the stretch, the Trojans closed out the Eagles and took sole possession of second place in the Sun Belt.

Troy shot 39.6 percent from the floor and 37.5 percent from three-point range. However, the Trojans finished solid at the free throw line. As a team, Troy shot 77.8 percent at the charity stripe.

The Eagles out-rebounded the Trojans 34-27, but Troy led in nearly every other statistical category. Southern’s largest lead was just two points, while the Trojans’ largest was 13.

Up next, Troy hosts Arkansas State (No. 3 in the Sun Belt) and Little Rock on Thursday and Saturday before traveling to Boone. That February 17 matchup with Appalachian State could be a fight for first place in the Sun Belt.