Nov. 29, 2006

Final Stats

The Alabama State Hornets faced a daunting task when the Troy Trojans headed into the Joe L. Reed Acadome Monday night. After all, Troy was averaging more than 80 points per game, and despite ASU's 80-77 victory over Tuskegee a few days earlier, the Hornets were shooting atrociously from the floor.

However, ASU head coach Lewis Jackson put together a game plan employing pressure defense, team rebounding and clock management that led the Hornets to a 63-56 win over the Trojans.

"It's a great win for us," said Jackson. "Troy is a good team. They can really score and they were playing well. For us to pick up this victory is a good sign for our club."

Things started out well for ASU as Joel Bosh - starting for the injured Richard Lott - grabbed the game's first rebound and scored the first basket on a jump shot.

From then on it was the Andrew Hayles-Dustin Richmond show. Hayles hit the first 3-pointer, quickly followed by one from Richmond. On the next possession, Hayles hit another to give the Hornets an 11-3 lead only three minutes and 30 seconds into the game.

Despite the offensive outburst by the Hornets' backcourt, ASU's defense dictated the first half, forcing 12 turnovers and holding Troy to 21 percent shooting. The high-powered Trojans scored just 12 points in the first half.

"I think it was probably the lowest (scoring output) that we've had since I've been here," said Troy coach Don Maestri, in his 25th year with the Trojans. "You have to credit them. They played great defense."

ASU pushed its 28-12 halftime lead to 34-14 behind consecutive three pointers by - you guessed it - Hayles and Richmond. But Troy found a way to get back into the game.

The Trojans went to a full court press, raising the tempo and forcing Hornet turnovers. Troy went on a 21-5 run and managed to close the gap to four points. However, a 3-pointer by Richmond and another from Hayles put the Hornets up by 10 and sealed the deal for ASU.

"Those guys (Hayles and Richmond) shot the ball well from the outside tonight," Jackson said. "They hit some important baskets at some key times. We still struggled around the basket, but we made up for it outside."

Hayles finished with 18 points (all scored on 3-point shots), and Richmond scored 17.

"I spent a lot of time this summer working on my shot," Richmond said. "I've got confidence in it and my teammates have confidence in me. I'm glad I was able to step up and help us get this big win tonight." Bosh had his second big game with 12 points and nine rebounds. Lott, working through a knee injury, was able to come off the bench to score six points and grab six rebounds.

The Hornets (2-2) will travel to Springfield, Missouri, to face Missouri State in the Price Cutter Classic on Thursday. ASU faces Santa Clara on Friday.