It’s been a tough road lately for the Troy Trojans basketball team.

Four straight losses, two of those at home, and a rough 2-9 conference record have clouded the team’s last few games in the soon to be retired Sartain Hall.

But the Trojans haven’t given up the fight yet, and have a chance to lift up their conference record with a win against Western Kentucky on Saturday.

The Trojans haven’t lost to the Hilltoppers in Troy since December of 2007, and have been seeing good performances lately from players such as senior Emile Jones.

“He’s been one of our most consistent players,” head coach Don Maestri said. “He played well on D and has been scoring well for us and has just been consistent. It’s hard to predict the future but I could see him maintaining a good level of performance for the rest of the season.”

Even though the Trojans have history on their side when it comes to WKU, Maestri isn’t expecting to just be handed a win Saturday.

WKU has won three of their last five games and despite an erratic record have brought in some solid wins in the Sun Belt.

Maestri and the Trojans know that WKU is a team with potential, and a well-rounded game will be needed to bring in a win.

“I think it’s kind of the same old story,” Maestri said. “We haven’t been plating good basketball lately and for us to succeed we have to play better and defend better all around. Western Kentucky is been playing well lately and for us to win we have to bring in a more consistent game.”

The Trojans have a good bit of potential on the court, including strong senior leadership from players such as Steve Cunningham, who Maestri believes could help lift his team back up to par.

“It’s his last few games here and being a senior means a lot to him,” Maestri said. “We hope he can get some good plays in and be a leader. He’s been up and down and not consistent but hopefully he’ll be on the upside for Saturday.”

Then there’s junior Will Weathers who is currently averaging 11.7 points per game, the most on the team, and bringing a solid presence to the Trojan offense.

But despite his success on the court, Maestri believes that Weathers could be even more of an offensive presence and really come into his own to close out the season.

“He’s been playing better lately,” Maestri said. “He’s scoring better but his assisted turnover rate could improve and he hasn’t played a complete game yet. We’re hoping that he comes up and gets even better before the end of the season.”

Despite the Trojans conference woes this season they still have a chance to bring in a few Sun Belt wins before the season closes and it all starts with WKU coming to town on Saturday.

The Trojans will tip-off on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Sartain Hall, the second to last game the team will play there before it closes its doors.