Troy sweeps South Alabama

TROY — Troy’s second victory over South Alabama this year was tougher than the first.

But it certainly was sweeter.

The Trojans, who clinched a first-round bye last week, beat the Jaguars 63-58 Saturday in the regular season finale in front of a season-high 3,017 fans on Senior Night. Troy, winner of 14 of its last 16, will have next week off to prepare for the quarterfinals of the conference tournament.

The Trojans (19-11, 14-4 Sun Belt) will be the No. 3 seed on March 8 against an opponent to be determined.

Not bad for a team predicted to finish last in the league by a long shot.

“(Before the season) I saw a magazine in Wal-mart and looked at the Sun Belt section and we were picked last,” point guard Michael Vogler said. “That’s the only time I saw it. It made me mad. I’m not sure about everybody else.”

Troy jumped out to an 11-3 lead and never trailed, just as it never trailed in a 94-70 win at South Alabama Jan. 15. It was tied at 16 after USA’s DeAndre Coleman scored on a dunk, but then Troy’s Kenny Ware scored on a rebound and Vogler got a steal and lay-up. Troy led 36-29 at the half, and while the Trojans never could pull away, the game got no closer than three points.

The Trojans hit 16 threes at Mobile, but shot just 2-of-18 from the 3-point line Saturday. Season leading scorer Brandon Hazzard didn’t hit a three. Ware, who hit his first six against the Jaguars (17-12, 10-8) Jan. 15, was 0-for-6 Saturday.

Still, the Trojans won, proving they were a team that doesn’t live and die by the three anymore.

“That’s another good sign for our basketball team,” head coach Don Maestri said. “We can win without the threes. We’ve learned how to win games. I don’t care if it’s an ugly win.”

It was ugly, though Troy had just eight turnovers. The Trojans forced 17 and found themselves diving for loose balls all night. Troy had 12 steals, led by Vogler’s four. South Alabama held a 45-34 advantage on rebounds, but shot just 35.8 percent compared to Troy’s 44.8 percent.

“Coach told us before the game not to let them outhustle us and let them beat us to loose balls,” Vogler said. “We got on the floor tonight and did a good job.”

Senior center Tom Jervis nearly had a triple-double with six points, 11 rebounds and seven blocks. His early energy inspired the crowd, and if not for foul trouble, he might have had the triple-double.

“He’s been beat up all year,” Vogler said. “He played with an emotional high as well. If you’re going to leave it on the line, you have to. When he plays hard, he plays well. We’ve got to get him mad.”

Jervis, Ware, Mario Telfair and Josh Williams were honored before the game. Telfair scored 10 off the bench. Ware and Williams didn’t fill up the stat sheet, but they had impacts on defense.

Maestri said it was the most unselfish group of seniors he’s had in his 27 years of coaching. Ware, Telfair and Williams come off the bench.

“They took the drive to win as more important than starting or getting minutes,” Maestri said. “‘We before me.’ That wasn’t just words for them. They lived by it.”

Vogler’s 13 points led a balanced scoring effort for the Trojans. Hazzard scored 12, and Telfair and Antywan Jones scored 10 each. Domonic Tilford led the Jaguars with 17 points, but shot 5-of-17. Bryan Sherrer scored 12.

After Denver and North Texas play today, the seedings for the tournament will be complete. Troy will then play the winner of the No. 6 and No. 11 seeds, which play Wednesday.