TROY, Ala. (Interstat) — In a defensive struggle defined by frigid shooting, the Troy Trojans used a dominant performance from forward Thomas Dowd and timely three-pointers to pull away from rival South Alabama for a 59-49 victory in a Sun Belt Conference men’s basketball game Saturday afternoon at Trojan Arena.

A crowd of 3,639 watched as both teams combined to shoot just 31% from the field, but Troy’s ability to connect from deep proved the decisive factor. The Trojans made 13 three-pointers on 42 attempts, while the Jaguars managed only 3 of 18 from beyond the arc.

The most important stretch of the game came early in the second half, when Troy extended a seven-point halftime lead into a commanding double-digit advantage. Leading 30-23 at the break, the Trojans opened the second period with a 14-4 run over the first five minutes. The surge was fueled by Dowd’s interior presence and a pair of three-pointers from Cobi Campbell and Theo Seng, pushing the lead to 44-27 and forcing a South Alabama timeout.

South Alabama, which never led in the contest, could not mount a sustained response. The Jaguars clawed within 10 points on several occasions but failed to string together enough offensive possessions to seriously threaten the Trojans down the stretch.

Dowd, a 6-foot-8 junior from Dothan, Alabama, was the game’s standout performer, recording a double-double with 18 points and 15 rebounds in 37 minutes. He also added three blocks and two assists, anchoring Troy’s defense and controlling the glass. His effort followed a 22-point performance in a win over Texas State earlier in the week.

For South Alabama, Chaze Harris matched Dowd’s scoring output with 18 points, but needed 18 shots from the field to do so. Stephen Williams provided a strong interior presence for the Jaguars with 13 rebounds and eight points.

The game was a stark contrast in offensive efficiency. Troy scored 59 points on 60 possessions for an offensive rating of 97.8. South Alabama was far less effective, managing only 49 points on 58 possessions for an offensive rating of 84.5. The Jaguars’ struggles were emblematic of their season-long offensive inconsistencies.

Both teams committed a nearly identical number of turnovers, with Troy at eight and South Alabama at nine, but the Trojans capitalized more effectively, scoring nine points off turnovers compared to just two for the Jaguars.

Campbell finished with 15 points for Troy, all coming on three-pointers, while Cooper Campbell dished out six assists. Victor Valdes contributed nine points, four assists and four steals for the Trojans.

For South Alabama, Hantz Louis Jeune added 10 points and seven rebounds.

With the win, Troy improved to 10-5 overall and 2-0 in Sun Belt play. South Alabama fell to 11-5 and 1-1 in the conference. The victory also marked Troy’s second straight win in the series.

The game’s final score fell well under the pregame over/under line of 142.5, highlighting the defensive nature of the contest. Troy covered the pregame spread of -7.5.

Troy next travels to face Arkansas State on Wednesday. South Alabama returns home to host Georgia Southern next Saturday.