Troy claimed the Sun Belt Conference tournament title with a convincing 77-61 victory over Georgia Southern. The win earns Troy a place in the NCAA tournament.
Dowd’s Performance Powers Troy
Thomas Dowd led the way for Troy, finishing with 23 points and 13 rebounds. Dowd made 8 of 12 shots, including two 3-pointers. He also went 5 for 6 from the free-throw line.
Jerrell Bellamy contributed 15 points for Troy, shooting 7-for-11. Victor Valdes added 12 points and six assists, while Cobi Campbell chipped in with 11 points.
Georgia Southern’s Five-Day Run Ends
Georgia Southern’s attempt to win five games in five days fell short in the championship game. Spudd Webb led the Eagles with 16 points. Tyren Moore scored 10 points, making 3 of 11 shots with two 3-pointers, and Nakavieon White added 11 points off the bench.
Georgia Southern missed 18 of 26 shots overall in the first half. They also struggled from 3-point range, missing 12 of 16 attempts.
How Troy Took Control
Tyren Moore opened the game with a 3-pointer for Georgia Southern. However, Troy quickly responded, with Thomas Dowd scoring a layup, followed by a dunk from Jerrell Bellamy, and Troy never trailed again.
Dowd had 13 points by halftime, helping the Trojans establish a 38-25 lead. The Trojans (22-11) earned a second straight trip to the NCAA tournament and their fourth overall.
- Thomas Dowd scored 23 points and had 13 rebounds for Troy.
- Jerrell Bellamy scored 15 points for Troy.
- Spudd Webb had 16 points for Georgia Southern.
Georgia Southern (21-16) became the fourth team to win five games in five days in a conference tournament. They joined NC State (2024, ACC) and UConn (2011, Big East). UNC achieved the feat in 1922 and 1925 as members of the Southern Conference.
Georgia Southern has made three NCAA tournament appearances, but none since 1992.