by Rylee Bamberger
Zay Williams scored 15 of the Troy Trojans’ 23 second-half points in the Trojans’ victory over Texas State Saturday. Williams led the Trojans on both ends of the court, leading the team with 19 points, seven rebounds, and three steals.
“Zay was really big for us down the stretch, kind of refused to give in and kind of put us on his back, honestly, because we were struggling to score, struggling to get a bucket, and he made some big shots for us," Head Coach Scott Cross said per Troy Athletics.
Williams’ performance helped snap the Trojans’ three-game losing streak. The Trojans averaged 60.6 points and allowed opponents to score an average of 74.3 points over this three-game skid.
The losing streak came against top-tier opponents in Louisiana (20-4, 10-2 SBC) and Southern Mississippi (21-4, 10-2 SBC). The third loss was to conference rival South Alabama (11-13, 5-7 SBC).
The Trojans have a chance to get payback as the South Alabama Jaguars travel to Troy on Thursday, February 9. South Alabama is led by 6-foot-1-inch guard Isaiah Moore and his 19 points per game. Moore recorded 23 points and seven rebounds in the last matchup between these two programs.
The Jaguars average 2.9 more points per game than their opponents but allow 3.8 more rebounds per game to their opponents. The Trojans outrebound their opponents on average and force 2.8 more turnovers per game.
On Saturday, Feb. 11, the Trojans get their chance to even the series with Louisiana. The Ragin’ Cajuns are led by three players averaging double-digit points.
Junior forward Jordan Brown leads the Ragin’ Cajuns with 19.9 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. This offensive power is followed by senior guard Greg Williams Jr.’s 14.7 points and senior forward Terrence Lewis II’s 11.8 points and 8.1 rebounds per game.
In the Trojans last matchup against the Ragin’ Cajuns, the Ragin' Cajuns had four players score double-digit points and beat the Trojans 72-57. Louisiana did not have Brown in this matchup; however, Williams Jr. scored 21 points and filled the hole that Brown left.
The Trojans are looking to use this momentum to improve their 14-11 (6-6 SBC) record and rise from their three-way tie for sixth place in the conference standings.
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