FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
3/4/04
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The top-seeded Troy State men's basketball team overcame an early deficit and then survived a late rally by eighth-seeded Florida Atlantic to win the opening game at the 2004 Atlantic Sun Conference Championship, 85-82, on Thursday at Belmont's Curb Event Center.
Senior guard Herbert Evans scored a career-high 23 points and Kendrick Johnson added 20, hitting a career-best six 3-pointers, to lead the way for Troy State, which won its 12th consecutive game, one shy of the school record.
The Trojans (23-5) trailed 11-2 after two minutes and battled back and forth with the Owls early, with the teams exchanging leads five times and forging three ties. TSU eventually grabbed a 50-49 halftime lead and then stretched the advantage to as much as 14 points early in the second half, racing out to a 70-56 lead with 14:50 to play. The Owls (9-19) wouldn't go away, however, cutting their deficit to a point twice in the final three minutes, the last time on Wes Edwards' layup and ensuing free throw with 1:56 to play. That made the score 83-82 and set up a frenetic final two minutes.
Ryan Heck and Herbert Evans each hit a single free throw to push the lead back to three points, and rebounding and defense took over from there. Johnson grabbed two key rebounds for the Trojans, and the Owls were unable to get a shot off in their final possession, allowing the Trojans to advance to Friday's semifinal round against the winner of Georgia State and Stetson.
"People always overestimate the (No. 1 seed vs. No. 8 seed)," Troy State head coach Don Maestri said. "Florida Atlantic is so talented and athletic, and they played a tremendous game. When the game got tight, our kids didn't press the panic button. I thought the first half, both teams played their hearts out. We hit some big shots and made some key defensive stops when we needed them."
Both teams were on fire from the floor, with the Trojans hitting 52 percent (27-of-58) and FAU 56 percent (29-of-63). The Trojans hit 16-of-37 shots from 3-point range, while the Owls hit 11-of-28, combining for an A-Sun Championship record for 3-pointers made and attempted. The Trojans, who lead the A-Sun in free throw percentage, hit just 15-of-27 free throws to help keep the Owls in the game, including just 7-of-14 in the second half.
"We didn't shoot free throws well today, which is unlike our team," Maestri said. "I thought that was a big factor in the game being close at the end."
In the first half, Jimmy Bishop scored 14 of his 17 points for the Owls, stretching them out to the early lead. FAU led for the first 10 minutes before Johnson's 3-pointer tied the game at 29 at the 10:476 mark. The Trojans led by as many as six points before settling for their one-point lead at the half.
In the second half, Troy State hits its first five shots to briefly pull away. FAU had two shots to take the lead in the final three minutes but was unable to convert. Johnson's two key rebounds helped sealed the final outcome.
"They were probably the biggest of my career," Johnson said.
"They saved us from going home," Maestri said.
Greg Davis tallied his 11th double-double of the season, scoring 13 points while dishing out 11 assists. Ryan Heck added 16 points for TSU, while Rob Lewin had eight points and 15 rebounds. Earnest Crumbley led FAU with 20 points and seven assists, while Edwards tallied 11 points and Robert Williams 10.
The Trojans will play at 6 p.m. on Friday against either GSU or Stetson. The game will be televised by Comcast-Charter Sports Southeast.

TSU Sports Information