Troy MBB Wins Back-to-Back Sun Belt Tournament Titles

The hardwood at the Pensacola Bay Center is once again enveloped in cardinal and white confetti following Troy men’s basketball’s win over Georgia Southern on Monday night. The Trojans are Sun Belt Conference Tournament champions for the second consecutive season. 

Brady Fitch photo

The Campbell brothers celebrate following the conference win.

Troy’s win over Georgia Southern was an impressive one. The Scott Cross-coached team dominated the Eagles to a 77-61 final score.  

Thomas Dowd was at his best when it mattered. The Dothan native logged 23 points and 13 rebounds. Jerrell Bellamy was a standout in both games of the tournament, though, with 15 points in the championship following his 22-point showing in the semifinal game against Southern Miss. 

The Trojans found ways to limit the production of Georgia Southern’s Spudd Webb. The senior had a 16-point night, the most for the Eagles. Troy’s work was primarily done off the glass, though. Outrebounding Georgia Southern, 35-16, the Trojans had plenty of second-chance opportunities. Troy’s 11 offensive boards outdid the Eagles’ five. 

Georgia Southern opened up the game with a three, but it was the only lead the team held all night. Troy led by 13 at the half, 38-25. Georgia Southern battled back with a 10-1 run to open the second half, cutting the Trojans’ lead to just four with just over 16 minutes to go. 

Troy settled back in and began to pull back ahead. A 16-5 run for the cardinal and white led to a 16-point lead, the largest of the night, with just a few minutes remaining. As the starters triumphantly took a seat, the fans left theirs to erupt in celebration of the team’s third-ever Sun Belt tournament title, and fourth-secured trip to the NCAA Tournament. 

Troy’s Thomas Dowd earned Sun Belt Tournament Most Outstanding Player honors, with Jerrell Bellamy being listed on the all-tournament team as well. The remainder of the list was made up of Georgia Southern’s Alden Applewhite, Spudd Webb and Tyren Moore along with Southern Miss’ Tylik Weeks. Those additional four were each challenges Troy overcame en route to the championship win. 

Troy will now wait for the remaining conference tournaments to play out before it knows who the team will play in the NCAA Tournament. The Trojans are currently projected as a 14 seed. Troy lost in the round of 64 in last year’s tournament against Kentucky, 76-57. 

Troy will enter the tournament with a 3-1 record against quadrant 1 and 2 opponents. This includes wins over San Diego State, UAB and Akron. 

The NCAA Selection Show will air on Sunday at 5 p.m. on CBS. The tournament tips off with the First Four on March 17-18, and the round of 64 begins on March 19.