Troy head coach Don Maestri won his 500th game on Friday as the Trojans defeated Florida Atlantic 81-79 in overtime in the first round of the Sun Belt Championships.

Maestri becomes the 23rd active coach in Division I to reach 500 and is just the sixth active coach to do so at the same school.

The Trojans (12-20) had lost five straight games since Maestri won No. 499.

Troy will play Arkansas State in the quarterfinals at 9 p.m. on Saturday.

Stat of Note: David Felix — hired a season before Maestri in 1981 — has won 511 games as Troy’s assistant coach. His 500th victory came with Troy’s upset of Mississippi State to open the season.

***HERE is the full story I wrote on the game.