TROY – The Colonial Council rematch between Lansingburgh and Troy was as frenetic as possible, with both teams playing a full 32 minutes of non-stop action that featured big runs.
In the end, it was Troy's big second-half push that made the difference as the Flying Horses avenged their only league loss this season with a 67-64 win over the Knights on Tuesday night.
Troy (12-6, 9-1) trailed by 17 points on two different occasions in the first half as the defense for Lansingburgh (14-5, 8-3) was suffocating and limited Troy's scoring opportunities before the Flying Horses turned it around in the second half by scoring 31 points in the third quarter to turn a 33-23 halftime deficit into a 54-49 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
"We don't quit, they are amazing young men," Troy coach Jamil Hood said. "We told them that we had to steal the third quarter, win the third quarter and that is what they did. We are a good defensive team, and we work hard in practice."
Troy dug itself a big hole in the first half, connecting on just one of 10 field goals in the first quarter and fell behind 23-6 early in the second as Elijah Flowers opened the second with five of his 13 points to give the Knights a 23-6 lead in a rematch from Lansingburgh's 83-74 win in mid-January.
"They were pressing like we pressed them," Hood said. "They gave us a bit of our medicine and that surprised us because they didn't do that when we went to their house."
Key moment
Troy finally found its form in the offensive zone in the third quarter and paced by a pair of three-pointers from freshman Xajeno Arroyo, his only two baskets of the game, took its first lead 47-46 with one minute, 52 seconds left in the third.
Moments after Terrance Allen's basket gave Lansingburgh a 48-47 lead, tempers flared between Allen and Troy senior Xaul Arroyo and play was halted to break up the skirmish.
Once order was restored and both players ejected, each team converted one technical free throw before Jerdarius Green scored eight points during a decisive 14-0 Troy run that extended into the fourth quarter as the Flying Horses took a 61-49 lead with 6:55 left in the game.
"We've got young guys, someone had to calm them down, that is my place to calm them down as the coach's son," Jordan Hood said. "We lost a key starter, a senior (Arroyo), we had to win the game for him, for us."
Star of the game
Green had 16 points for Troy, including 12 in the second half and his presence near the basket on both ends of the floor cast a longer shadow than his six-foot, six-inch frame did.
The junior was credited with five blocked shots on the defensive end and altered even more while finding room down low in the offensive end to pick up some key baskets to lead the win.
Green also converted all four of his free throw attempts in the game.
"I found a lot of space, I started seeing how the defense was playing and started getting my shots up," Green said. "My free throws, I've been able to knock them down, I've been in the gym and able to finish at a high rate."
Numbers to know
31: Third quarter points for Troy, including eight from Green and six from Jordan Hood, Xajeno Arroyo, Kayne Behan, and five from Nymiear Jenkins, who contributed 10 points in the game off the bench.
21: Points by Lansingburgh senior Josiah Acevedo, a team-high, including nine in the first quarter.
16: Points by Jordan Hood as the senior scored the only basket for Troy in the game's opening nine minutes, 52 seconds.
What's next
Lansingburgh: The Knights go on the road to face Cohoes in the final game of their regular season before the start of sectional tournament play.
Troy: The Flying Horses travel to Mohonasen on Friday in their final Colonial Council matchup of the regular season.
This article originally published at Troy boys' basketball rallies for wild win over Lansingburgh.