Troy University’s men’s basketball team secured a 99-74 victory over Arkansas State on Saturday at Trojan Arena, moving to 6-1 in Sun Belt Conference play. This marks the best conference start through seven games in Troy’s Sun Belt history.
The win, combined with Georgia Southern’s loss to Coastal Carolina, places Troy alone at the top of the Sun Belt standings.
Jerrell Bellamy led Troy with a career-high 22 points, shooting 9-of-11 from the field and making four dunks. He also recorded two blocks. Victor Valdes contributed his first career double-double with 17 points and 14 assists, which ties for the third-most assists by a Troy player since 2006. Thomas Dowd added 24 points and 10 rebounds, marking his tenth double-double of the season. Cooper Campbell scored 13 points, and Cobi Campbell finished with 11.
Troy’s offense was especially strong in the second half, scoring 55 points while shooting 69 percent from the field. The team also made 19 of its 21 free throw attempts for a season-best percentage.
Arkansas State opened the game with a seven-point run before Troy responded. After an early injury scare, Thomas Dowd returned to help spark an 11-0 run that gave Troy control of the game. The Trojans led by nine at halftime and extended their lead throughout the second half.
Head Coach Scott Cross said: “That was an amazing basketball game to win in that convincing of a fashion. We got going, our guys got in flow, and we were playing with a lot of toughness and grit. We set the tone with our rebounding in the first half. They crushed us on the boards in Jonesboro, so I challenged the guys and they really responded. It all came together today; this is the best version of Troy.”
Victor Valdes’ performance included three blocks—a new career high—and he became the fourth Trojan to record a double-double this season alongside Thomas Dowd (10), Jerrell Bellamy (1), and Cooper Campbell (1). The Trojans finished with 25 assists as a team for the fourth time this year, tying for second-most such games nationally along with Michigan.
Thomas Dowd’s ten double-doubles tie him for eighth nationally and lead all Sun Belt players.
Troy committed only seven turnovers against Arkansas State—matching its lowest total this season against Division I opponents.
The Trojans now hold a 20-15 all-time record against Arkansas State.
Next up for Troy is an away game against Old Dominion on Wednesday, Jan. 21 at Norfolk, Virginia. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and via radio on the Troy Sports Media Network.
