Troy drops 69–65 road matchup to Southern Miss

Troy falls to 69-65 to Southern Miss extending Trojans losing streak to two.

The game did not open with scoring. It opened with rebounds. Troy and Southern Miss traded boards and empty possessions through several missed attempts before the Trojans finally got on the board when Thomas Dowd finished a layup at the 18:26 mark to give Troy the first points of what quickly became a physical matchup.

That sequence set the tone early.

Both teams settled into a defensive rhythm that limited clean looks and forced longer possessions. Neither side created separation in the first half, and the teams entered the break tied 26–26 in a period defined by physical play and balanced execution.

Out of halftime, Troy began to find more offensive rhythm.

The Trojans finished 25-of-56 from the field, shooting 44.6% compared to Southern Miss’ 40.3%. Troy also connected on six three-pointers and used spacing to stay within reach as the pace picked up in the second half.

But while Troy shot efficiently, Southern Miss controlled key areas that mattered late.

The Golden Eagles capitalized at the free-throw line, converting 13-of-16 attempts compared to Troy’s 9-of-16. Southern Miss also committed fewer turnovers, finishing with 10 to Troy’s 15, while holding a rebounding edge at 40–38.

Southern Miss was led by Tylik Weeks, who scored 32 points and provided consistent offense throughout the night, particularly during key second-half stretches.

Dowd paced Troy with 14 points and added four rebounds, including the game’s first basket after the rebound-heavy start. Tayton Conerway finished with 12 points and five assists, while Myles Rigsby added 10 points.

Head coach Scott Cross pointed to rebounding as the difference.

“We got our butt kicked on the glass,” Cross said. “Rebounding the basketball is where we lost this game.”

Southern Miss’ second-chance opportunities and Troy’s turnovers created additional possessions that proved difficult to overcome late.

“You can’t turn it over 15 times and only turn them over 10 times,” Cross said. “They just got a lot more shot attempts than us.”

Cross also highlighted the impact of Weeks, who consistently scored around the basket and created problems defensively.

“We let Weeks get going and he was scoring everything around the basket,” Cross said. “Very, very frustrating.”

Troy continued to compete.

The Trojans responded to momentum swings and forced Southern Miss to execute late, using defensive stops and balanced scoring to stay within striking distance entering the final minutes.

Austin Cross with his 3rd triple of the game‼️ pic.twitter.com/7gkONJhcc1

— Troy Trojans MBB (@TroyTrojansMBB) February 15, 2026

Closing execution ultimately made the difference.

Troy had opportunities to shift momentum, but a free-throw gap and several empty possessions late prevented the push needed to take control. Southern Miss converted opportunities at the line and made defensive stops to secure the 69–65 result.

Despite the loss, Cross said the focus now shifts forward.

“We’ve got to get back to doing the little things that made us successful early on,” Cross said. “Grabbing rebounds, taking care of the basketball and being mentally stronger.”

The Trojans shot efficiently, competed on the glass and maintained defensive intensity in a physical road environment. The rebound-heavy start reflected the overall tone of the game, where possessions were contested and small details added importance.

In the end, a matchup built on physical play and extended possessions was decided by execution. For Troy, the loss highlights the narrow margin that often defines conference play, especially on the road.