I took a few days to concentrate on area high school and recreation stuff now that football season is over. I’m back on the Troy basketball beat, however. Troy (4-5, 0-2) plays Utah Valley (4-6) at Trojan Arena at 7 p.m.

The Trojans are on a three games skid, but have been in every game with the exception of Louisiana Tech on Nov. 18. Troy isn’t scoring many points, but they’re not allowing many either. The Trojans highest scoring output is 71, which came in their most recent game on Dec 1. against Western Kentucky.

Troy is 4-1 this season when allowing fewer than 70 points but 0-4 when giving up 70 or more. As a team, Troy ranks 10th (of 11 teams) in scoring in the Sun Belt Conference, however, they are fourth in scoring defense. The Trojans are last or next to last in the conference in rebounds per game, offensive rebounds,  rebound margin, steals per game, blocks per game and opponents turnovers per game. The team is second in the league in three-point field goals made per game and first in assist to turnover ratio.

Utah Valley lost its last game on the road to Weber State, 89-56. Ben Airds heads the Wolverines with 12.5 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. Utah Valley averages 64.1 points per game and shoots 44.0 percent from the field.

Troy is 1-1 all-time against Utah Valley. The Wolverines took the first of two matches during the 2007-08 season, 72-51, but the Trojans rebounded to beat Utah Valley later that season in Troy.