Box Score
TROY, Ala. - The rematch of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament title game from 2010 went the way of the Troy Trojans this time as they knocked off North Texas, 89-81. A fast paced game that featured 13 lead changes in the first half, turned on an early second half run for the Trojans.
With the game tied at 52-52 early in the second half, Troy went on a 13-0 run to open up a 65-52 lead and take command of the game. The Trojans (4-13, 2-3) would not relinquish the lead despite five North Texas players scoring in double figures.
Tristan Thompson led the way with 25 points off the bench and George Odufuwa had his 25th career double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds.
"You have to give them [Troy] a lot of credit, they were a team on a mission tonight," said head coach Johnny Jones. "We didn't make enough plays in the second half like we did in the first and that hurt us."
The Mean Green (14-4, 3-2) battled back, cutting the Troy lead to six points at 74-68 with 7:18 left. Troy was able to push the lead back to double figures at 78-68 with five minutes remaining and was able to ice the game from the free throw line.
The game opened with a flurry as Regis Huddlestone knocked down three 3-pointers for Troy while Shannon Shorter for North Texas had six early points and the game was tied at 13-13 with 12:59 left in the half.
The fast paced first half continued as Alonzo Edwards had a thunderous dunk and Tristan Thompson banged home a 3-pointer to cap a 15-6 North Texas run to open up a 31-27 lead with 7:50 left in the half.
North Texas opened up a six-point lead at 44-38 with three minutes left in the half, but Troy battled back and the game went into the break tied at 48-48.
North Texas returns to action next Thursday as they face ULM on the road.
