TROY, Ala. (Interstat) — In a commanding display of offensive efficiency and defensive intensity, the Troy men’s basketball team avenged a loss from just 10 days prior with a decisive 99-74 victory over Arkansas State in a Sun Belt Conference matchup Saturday afternoon at Trojan Arena.

A crowd of 3,321 watched the Trojans (13-6, 3-1 Sun Belt) dismantle the visiting Red Wolves (12-7, 2-2) by shooting a blistering 55.7 percent from the field, including 12 of 32 from three-point range, and a near-perfect 19 of 21 from the free throw line. The 25-point margin was a stark contrast to the teams’ meeting on Jan. 7, which Arkansas State won 86-74 in Jonesboro.

The most important part of the game was Troy’s overwhelming and sustained offensive execution, which Arkansas State had no answer for after the opening minutes. The Trojans scored on their first three possessions of the second half to quickly extend a 44-35 halftime lead to 14 points and never allowed the Red Wolves within single digits again. Troy’s offensive rating of 147.8, fueled by 34 field goals on just 61 possessions, underscored an attack that consistently generated high-percentage shots.

Victor Valdes, a 6-foot-7 junior from Monterrey, Mexico, was the orchestrator of the Trojans’ dominance. He delivered a masterful performance with 17 points and a career-high 14 assists, repeatedly carving up the Arkansas State defense to set up teammates. His playmaking was complemented by dominant interior performances from Thomas Dowd and Jerrell Bellamy. Dowd, a 6-8 forward from Dothan, Alabama, scored 24 points on 9-of-14 shooting and added three assists and two blocks. Bellamy, a 6-9 forward from Phenix City, Alabama, was a force off the bench, making 9 of 11 shots for 22 points in just 20 minutes of action.

The Trojans also received double-figure scoring from the backcourt duo of Cooper Campbell (13 points) and Cobi Campbell (11 points). Troy’s defense was equally impactful, recording seven blocks and six steals while holding Arkansas State to a 42.6 percent shooting clip and forcing nine turnovers.

Arkansas State, which entered the game having won six of its last eight, struggled to find any consistent rhythm. The Red Wolves were led by TJ Caldwell’s 17 points off the bench and 15 points from Jalen Hampton. Christian Harmon added 14 points and Matt Hayman contributed 10 points and five assists. However, the team managed only three assists total outside of Hayman’s output, highlighting their offensive stagnation against Troy’s pressure.

The Trojans seized control midway through the first half. After Arkansas State took an early 5-0 lead, a 10-0 Troy run, capped by a Thomas Dowd three-pointer, put the home team ahead for good. The lead grew to 44-35 by halftime, and Troy opened the second period with a 9-2 spurt to effectively put the game out of reach. The Trojans’ lead ballooned to as many as 28 points in the final minutes.

The victory improved Troy’s home record to 9-1 this season and marked their third win in four conference games. Arkansas State, which had its two-game winning streak snapped, will look to regroup on the road next week. According to Interstat’s ELO system, Troy entered the game with a 65.7 percent probability to win and covered the pregame spread of -2.5. The combined score of 173 points went over the over/under line of 163.

Troy next travels to face Old Dominion on Wednesday, while Arkansas State visits Georgia Southern on Thursday.