Troy defeats Louisiana 70-90
Troy Dominates Louisiana in Conference Showdown, 90-70
The Cajundome was abuzz with energy on Monday night as the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns hosted the visiting Troy Trojans in a highly anticipated conference matchup. In a clinical performance, Troy came away with a resounding 90-70 victory, leaving the home crowd disappointed.
From the opening tip-off, it was clear that this game would be a statement win for Troy, who dominated the paint and controlled the tempo of play. The Trojans' relentless pressure paid off in the first half, as they took a 35-53 lead into halftime, outscoring Louisiana by a staggering 18 points.
Troy's Thomas Dowd led the way with 15 points, including three 3-pointers, while his teammate Victor Valdes chipped in seven assists and 12 points. The duo proved to be too much for the Ragin' Cajuns defense to handle, as they combined for 27 points on 11-of-23 shooting.
In contrast, Louisiana's Dorian Finister struggled with accuracy from beyond the arc, going just 3-of-5 in the first half. Despite his 25 points, including a game-high seven made free throws, Finister was unable to lead his team back from the deficit.
The second half saw little change, as Troy continued to push the pace and build on its early lead. The Trojans' bench also played a crucial role, providing a spark that helped seal the victory for their team. In the end, Louisiana's largest lead of the game came at 0-24, reflecting the significant margin by which Troy had outscored them.
Louisiana's advanced statistics told a similar story, as they struggled to contain Troy's offense and could not get their own shot-making going. The Ragin' Cajuns' true shooting percentage was a paltry 58.6%, while Troy's stood at a respectable 66.3%.
In the end, it was clear that this game was always going to be a statement win for Troy, who demonstrated its ability to adapt and overcome on both ends of the floor. The Trojans' victory moves them closer to the top of their conference standings, while Louisiana's loss leaves them with a tough hill to climb in pursuit of a postseason bid.
Key Takeaways
* Troy dominated the paint and controlled the tempo of play.
* Thomas Dowd and Victor Valdes led the way for the Trojans, combining for 27 points on 11-of-23 shooting.
* Louisiana's Dorian Finister struggled with accuracy from beyond the arc.
* The game was a clear statement win for Troy, who demonstrated its ability to adapt and overcome.
Game Statistics
Louisiana
* Field Goals: 25/54 (46.0%)
* 2-Point FG: 15/29 (51.7%)
* 3-Point FG: 10/25 (40.0%)
* Free Throws: 10/13 (77.0%)
* Rebounds: 19
* Assists: 11
* Turnovers: 10
Troy
* Field Goals: 34/63 (54.0%)
* 2-Point FG: 17/34 (50.0%)
* 3-Point FG: 17/29 (59.0%)
* Free Throws: 5/11 (45.0%)
* Rebounds: 42
* Assists: 25
* Turnovers: 13