first TAAC game of the year

By STEVEN G. WATSON

Sports Editor

The Troy State Trojans would not be denied their first Trans American Athletic Conference win and posted a 77-69 victory over the visiting Jacksonville University Dolphins Wednesday night.

Led in the most part by the scoring of Matt Holman (21 points) and the ball control of point guard Detric Golden, who finished with his second consecutive double-double (12 points and 13 assists), the Trojans grabbed control of the game and the lead on a Holman 3-pointer early in the second half and never let go.

The Dolphins (1-3 overall, 0-1 in TAAC play) had gone on a run midway through the first half and pulled out to as much as a nine-point lead, but could never shake the Trojans (3-1, 1-0). TSU kept plugging away and used a late surge to go into the locker rooms down only four 38-34.

"We didn’t panic, that’s what I was happy to see," TSU head coach Don Maestri said after the game. "We stayed composed even though they made a run. Going into the second half I felt if we got the lead that we would really put the heat on them."

That’s exactly what the Trojans did taking the lead on back-to-back 3-pointers by Robert Rushing and Holman.

"They still came back and made some big baskets, but we answered them right away and were able to maintain the lead," Maestri said. "We never gave the lead up once we got it which again is another good sign. The game itself certainly turned out the way we wanted it to."

Jacksonville University was able to tie the game once and pull within one three times in the later stages of the game, but never could get over the hump.

Tote Christopher came alive in the second half to help out Golden, Holman and JUCO transfer Jacova Jenkins (12 points). Christopher scored 10 of his 11 points in the second half to go with five assists and nine rebounds.

After the game there was a lot of talk about the role Golden has played in the Trojans’ last two games running the point. The senior transfer from Memphis has been outstanding dumping the ball off to his teammates at just the right time, but depending on who you ask, the passer or the scorer, there are all sorts of praise for the other.

"I’ve got the easy job, all I have to do is distribute the ball," Golden said. "They have the tough job, they have to knock those shots down. I’m glad they’re finding their stroke and tonight was a good time to find it being our first conference game."

"It makes my job so much easier to have a great point guard like Detric," Holman said. "All I have to do is spot up and shoot it, he’ll get it to me every time. I’ve never played with a point guard as great as Detric. He just has a knack for finding the open man."

Maestri has all praise for both sides, but feels that Golden is something special and a joy to have on his team.

"There were just some great passes out there tonight," Maestri said. "Anybody who loves the game of basketball would come just to watch him pass the ball because that’s a lost art. He hasn’t lost it though. He’s passing skills are just tremendous."

"I had a talk with coach Maestri and he told me that I have to come out and establish myself," Golden said. "I’ve just got to be a leader out there and do the things I do best. That will open up everybody else. This is my first year of playing on the floor with them. I just have to feel my way through and it turns out that I just have to do the same thing I’ve done my whole life. The better my game goes the better the team will get."