for doubleheader Saturday

By STEVEN G. WATSON

Sports Editor

Neither Troy State basketball team has very much time to dwell on the past.

The Trojans are coming off a highly-emotional 77-65 win over defending Trans America Athletic Conference champion Samford Thursday night and the Lady Trojan have to put some demons to rest after a 78-77 loss to Belmont Wednesday and try to end their current three-game losing streak.

Both will see if they are able to look forward Saturday as the two teams host a double-header with the women facing Mercer in the first game at 5 p.m. and the men returning to action against arch-rival and league-leading Jacksonville State directly following.

For the men, the Gamecocks will pose a huge threat with little time to prepare after working all week on finding ways to stop Samford.

JSU is a surprising 11-3 overall and 6-0 in the TAAC after defeating Mercer Thursday.

As probably the most surprising team in the TAAC, the Gamecocks are off to a fantastic start and are currently on a five-game winning streak.

Jacksonville State holds the third most potent offense in the league, under Troy State and Samford, averaging 71.9 points per game and are led by their 6-foot-1 guard Marion Gurley who has hit over 40 percent from beyond the 3-point arch and is leading the team with 16.1 a game.

Gurley is complemented nicely by two of the Gamecocks’ dominate post players in 6-10 center Brant Harriman and 6-4 forward Mike McDaniel who are both averaging over 13 points a contest.

The inside out game has worked nicely for Jacksonville State in the early going as they can put up the numbers and are holding opponents to only 66.3 points a game. JSU’s biggest problem might be bench production, however. They have only two players outside the starting lineup who are averaging over five points a game.

The Lady Trojans just need a win. They’ve only won one out of their last six and that was a 73-72 non-conference win over Texas Pan American just before the new year.

After three straight away games a home win over Mercer might be just what the doctor ordered for head coach Jerry Hester and his ladies.

The TSU women outmatch the Lady Bears in almost every category, but that can always be deceiving.

While Mercer is led by only one player in double figures in 5-4 guard Jenny Sessor who is notching 10.7 a game, Troy State can boast three in double figures, not counting Keisha Ellis who scored 13 in her first game back from injury Wednesday night in only 19 minutes played.

Abby Boone, who is also coming back from an injury leads the team with 17.9 a contest while freshman phenom Sharin Milner is hitting for 10.6 points and a league-leading 7.3 assists a game for the Lady Trojans.

Mercer has also seen some road woes as of late losing three straight away from home. The Lady Bears hold a 6-7 overall record and match TSU with a 1-3 conference showing.