Hoops look: Troy at South Alabama
December 19, 2007
What: Troy (6-4) at South Alabama (7-3)
When: 7 p.m. CST Dec. 21
Where: Mitchell Center (10,000), Mobile
Last time out: Troy beat Jacksonville 98-80 at home. South Alabama beat Mississippi State 71-67 at home.
Probable starting lineups
TROY
G-Jerome Odem (6’1, 160, Sr.) - 6.9 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 51.5 3pt%
G-O’Darien Bassett (6’2, 190, Sr.) - 16.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 2.9 apg
F-Justin Jonus (6’6, 221, Sr.) - 14.2 ppg, 3.5 rpg
F-Trayce Macon (6’8, 191, Soph.) - 7.7 ppg, 5.1 rpg
F-Jarvis Acker (6’6, 210, Sr.) - 6.8 ppg, 3.0 rpg
SOUTH ALABAMA
G-Daon Merritt (5’8, 193, Sr.) 13.0 ppg
G-BJ Ford (6’0, 165, Jr.) 4.2 ppg
G-Demetric Bennett(6’4, 205, Sr.) 20.2 ppg
F-Brandon Davis(6’6, 205, Jr.) 9.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg
F-DeAndre Coleman (6’7, 233, Jr.) 6.4 ppg, 7.1 rpg
What to watch for: It’s the Sun Belt opener for both teams. Troy has won 5 straight for the first time since winning 14 straight in the 2003-04 season. The Trojans closed Sun Belt play last year with a come-from-behind overtime win when Justin Jonus hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to force overtime. South Alabama has been very impressive thus far, losing to unbeaten Ole Miss and Vanderbilt on the road by just three points each. Guard Demetric Bennett scorched the nets in a win over Mississippi State, going for 39 points and earning several national weekly honors.
Player to watch, Troy: Brandon Hazzard. The 6-foot-2 sophomore had yet another career game with 27 points Monday against Jacksonville. Can he continue it when it counts the most?
Player to watch, USA: Domonic Tilford. The 5-foot-10 sophomore is averaging 14 ppg off the bench.
Troy will win if: The Trojans need to hit at least five more 3-pointers than South Alabama, win the turnover battle and not get too manhandled on the boards.
USA will win if: It attacks the Troy press instead of reacting and setting up its offense, giving Troy’s defense a chance to get back.
Drew’s prediction: Too much experienced talent wins out at home. South Alabama 84, Troy 76
