Tipp cruises past Troy after fast start

The Troy Trojans never knew what hit them.

When the Troy coaches looked up at the scoreboard and saw that Tipp led 17-1 in the opening quarter, they were stunned. But even after a battle back in the second quarter, they could not slow down a Red Devils offense that connected on nine three’s and earned another win at home.

Tipp defeated the Trojans 66-47 to continue their lead in the MVL North as four players scored in double figures. After the game tightened up a bit in the second period, the Red Devils hit the gas pedal again and maintained their comfortable lead throughout the second half en route to the big conference win.

“Since the Butler game, I thought we had played really hard and have had enthusiasm,” said Tipp coach Brock Moon. “Even at Greenville I challenged the kids to have the same energy and enthusiasm and I thought they came out with that tonight.”

“It always helps to hit shots early and we did that, and I thought a lot of loose balls were ours tonight and that is what we really want.”

Preston Zumwalt scored eight quick points in the opening quarter while CJ Bailey dropped in a pair of threes as the Red Devils led 19-6 after the first eight minutes. After the fast start, the Red Devils settled down as Troy outscored the host Red Devils 18-17 in the second period as Troy’s shots finally started to fall. Bailey continued to have the hot hand for Tipp with 10 points in the quarter and 15 for the half as the Red Devils maintained a comfortable halftime lead 36-24.

Another big quarter for the Red Devils put the game away heading to the fourth, as Tipp outscored Troy 20-9 in the third before putting the game away in the fourth period.

Tipp got 20 points from Bailey, 14 from Zumwalt while Sivon added 13 and Smith scored 11.

*Tipp also defeated Xenia on Friday 51-30 as Bailey led Tipp with 16 points while Sivon and Jackson each added nine.