Game #20—February 2, 2018
Spartans experience “Groundhog Day” with 6th straight loss
Troy Buchanan1516178 =56
Francis Howell Central1391513 = 50
Phil Connors, a character played by Bill Murray in the movie Groundhog Day, could have related to the Spartans on February 2. Just as Connors relived an unpleasant Groundhog Day, the Spartans repeated their frustrations of the past three weeks, losing their sixth straight and remaining winless at home.
The game started promising for the Spartans as FHC jumped to a 5-0 lead on a Terron Robinson 3-pointer off an Austin Crudup steal and a Jordan Hayden basket. Troy turned over the ball on their first two possessions and FHC scored seven of their first nine points off steals. Kaleb Anderson stole the ball and scored and moments later, Adam Lewis nabbed the ball and Terron Robinson tied the game 9-9. Colin Hepler and Kaleb Anderson recorded baskets, but the Spartans trailed 15-13 after one quarter.
LaRenzo Hayes scored the first points of the second quarter to knot the game at 15. Terron Robinson sank two free throws after being fouled on a second-chance shot to give the Spartans a 17-15 lead. Troy briefly moved back ahead before Jordan Hayden’s 3-pointer pushed FHC back in front 20-18, the final time the Spartans would lead. The Trojans scored the next seven points as part of a 16-2 run that extended into the third quarter, with the Spartans mustering a lone LaRenzo Hayes basket.
Troy increased their lead to 34-22 before Austin Crudup’s basket. Jordan Hayden sank a 3-pointer to cut the Trojan lead to 36-27. Terron Robinson completed a traditional 3-point play to pull the Spartans within six and his subsequent basket kept the six-point deficit. Colin Hepler dropped a putback with 2:50 remaining in the third quarter and Kaleb Anderson’s traditional 3-point play kept the Troy lead at 44-37. Jim King restored the Trojans double-digit advantage with a basket at the buzzer.
The Spartans chipped away at the deficit through much of the fourth quarter. Terron Robinson stole the opening Trojan possession, leading to an Adam Lewis bucket. Jordan Hayden dropped two 3-pointers to cut the Troy lead to 51-45. A Kaleb Anderson steal led to a Terron Robinson 3-pointer that sliced the Trojan lead to 52-48. Colin Hepler scored with 2:22 remaining to pull the Spartans within two, but FHC was blanked the remainder of the game.
Terron Robinson totaled 15 points, 2 assists, and 2 steals. Jordan Hayden scored a career-high 14 points and dished 3 assists. Kaleb Anderson added 7 points, 3 assists, and 2 steals. Colin Hepler scored 6 points. Myles Estrada passed 6 assists and Adam Lewis dished 2.
The Trojans improved to 12-8 overall and 4-2 in the GAC South while the Spartans fell to 7-13 overall and 2-6 in the conference. FHC will travel to Fort Zumwalt West on Friday, February 9, for a 7 pm showdown with the Jaguars.