PENSACOLA, Fla. — In a commanding performance, Tayton Conerway led Troy with 22 points, while teammate Jackson Fields added 21, propelling the Trojans to a decisive 79-60 win over James Madison in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament semifinals on Sunday night.
Troy, the tournament’s third seed with a 22-10 record, will advance to the championship game on Monday, where they will face No. 4 seed Arkansas State. A win would grant them an automatic spot in the NCAA Tournament. Arkansas State secured their place in the final after upsetting top-seeded South Alabama with a narrow 74-71 victory in their semifinal matchup.
Conerway’s performance was marked by efficiency, shooting 7-for-10, including 2-for-3 from beyond the arc, and making 6-of-7 attempts from the free-throw line. Fields contributed with a strong showing from three-point range, hitting 5-of-8 and adding six rebounds. Thomas Dowd was also instrumental for the Trojans, scoring 18 points while shooting 6-for-8 from the field and 4-for-5 from the line.
For the second-seeded Dukes, who ended their season with a 20-12 record, Mark Freeman was the standout performer, scoring 34 points. Elijah Hutchins-Everett supported with nine points, six rebounds, and two steals.
Troy established an early lead just over a minute into the first half and never looked back. Conerway’s 11 points in the first half were vital as the Trojans surged to a 40-23 advantage by halftime, setting the stage for their eventual triumph.
