Troy basketball begins homestand

Staff

Published Monday, December 3, 2007

Bobby Mathews, The Messenger

The Troy University men's basketball team hosts Shorter College tonight at 7:30 p.m.

After four straight road games, the Trojans are happy to be back in the friendly confines of Trojans Arena.

"I think we have more fun playing at home," Troy coach Don Maestri said. "Your family, the student body, the city is there. Your pride's on the line more at home. It gives us a slight edge when we play at home."

The Trojans won their last game at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi after dropping the first three games on the road trip.

"We haven't had our team at full force since the beginning of the season," Maestri said.

Indeed. Mario Telfair has been out with a broken nose suffered in practice, while point guard Michael Vogler

has an ankle injury. Tom Jervis, a 7-foot center, has battled ankle and leg problems throughout the early part of the season.

The Trojans will again rely on the sharp shooting of O'Darien Bassett and Justin Jonus, in addition to a tough pressing defense.

"I think we're getting smarter with our shot selection," Maestri said. "The three-ball is one thing, but making sure you get a good shot off is the big thing. I think we've gotten better at shot selection."

Shorter, a NAIA school, comes into Troy with the intention of upsetting a Division I program.

"If there's anything we've learned in sports this year it's that you may have a little more talent than another team, but if the other team is on and having a great game, it's going to be an upset. You used to not see that 10 years ago."

Troy will play four straight games at home, then travel to Mobile to play South Alabama before coming back and playing three more at home.

---

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE THIS STORY?

---