OPENING TIP
Little Rock wraps up its three-game road swing in California, facing San Diego on Monday, November 20 as part of the Grand Canyon Classic. Tip time against the Toreros will be at 9 p.m. CT from the Jenny Craig Pavilion, airing online at
TheW.tv, the West Coast Conference's digital broadcasting site. Ray Tucker will call the game live on The Point 94.1 FM, available over the air and online at
KKPT.com.
SUCCESS IN THE GOLDEN STATE
Monday's game at San Diego marks just the sixth time Little Rock will play a game in the state of California, although the Trojans may want to schedule more as they are 4-1 in the previous five. Ironically, San Diego was the last California city the Trojans played in, defeating San Diego State 49-43 on November 21, 2015. The previous four games were in the Los Angeles area, beginning with a 76-68 loss to Southern Cal in 1984, before defeating Cal Poly (67-40) and Pepperdine (66-65) in 2008.
GRAND CANYON CLASSIC
Little Rock's game at San Diego Monday is a continuation of the Trojans' involvement in the Grand Canyon Classic. The five-team tournament includes Little Rock, host Grand Canyon, San Diego, Robert Morris and Norfolk State with games being played in Phoenix, San Diego and Little Rock. The Trojans' game at Grand Canyon on Saturday began their involvement in the event as the tournament will then shift back to Little Rock for  home games against Robert Morris and Norfolk State on November 25 and 26. In addition to the two Little Rock home games this Thanksgiving weekend, Robert Morris and Norfolk State will complete their portion of the tournament in Little Rock, playing a neutral site game at the Jack Stephens Center on Friday, November 24.
SCOUTING THE TOREROS
2017-18: 3-0 overall, 0-0 West Coast Conference
Last Three Games: W at San Jose State, 81-64; W vs. Robert Morris, 65-53; W vs. Norfolk State, 71-62Â
Head Coach: Lamont Smith (San Diego, 1999). Third season at San Diego (25-39, .391)
Last Game Starters:
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#0 Isaiah Pineiro (Jr., F): 10.7 ppg | 6.0 rpg | 33.3 FG% | 25.0 3PT% | 75.0 FT% | 6 ast. | 2 blk.
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#3 Olin Carter III (Jr., G): 16.0 ppg | 2.7 rpg | 43.2 FG% | 44.0 3PT% | 62.5 FT% | 8 ast. | 3 blk.
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#15 Alex Floresca (So., F): 5.0 ppg | 3.7 rpg | 30.0 FG% | 100.0 3PT% | 61.5 FT% | 2 ast.
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#20 Cameron Neubauer (Sr., F): 12.0 ppg | 4.0 rpg | 39.1 FG% | 38.9 3PT% | 78.6 FT% | 7 ast. | 4 stl.
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#22 Isaiah Wright (Jr., G): 14.3 ppg | 4.7 rpg | 56.0 FG% | 57.1 3PT% | 73.3 FT% | 16 ast. | 7 stl.
SERIES HISTORY
Monday's game marks the first all-time meeting between Little Rock and San Diego.Â
LAST TIME OUT
Little Rock struggled to find its scoring touch and fell into a deep hole early, dropping a 76-51 decision at Grand Canyon Arena Saturday evening. The Trojans shot just 27.3 percent from the floor and 16.7 percent from three-point range, trailing by as many as 31. Little Rock had just one player in double figures (
Andre Jones - 11) and had eight shots blocked inside by the Lope defenders.
SHARING THE ROCK
When it comes to scoring early in the 2017-18 season, the word "balanced" seems more than fitting. Through the first three games of the season, eight Trojans have scored between 27 and 18 points, averaging between 9.0 and 6.0 points per game.
Andre Jones and
Camron Reedus lead the team with 27 points each (9.0 ppg), followed by
Ben Marcus' 24 total points (8.0 ppg). Four different Trojans have scored 19 points this season as the quartet of
Oliver Black,
Jaizec Lottie,
Damir Hadzic and
Anthony Black are all averaging 6.3 points per game.
PRESENCE IN THE PAINT
Junior
Oliver Black has been one of Little Rock's most consistent performers in the paint through the early part of 2017-18, leading the team with 21 rebounds. Black has been the Trojans' top rebounder in each of the first three games, including a season-best nine in the opener against Ouachita Baptist, while sitting tied for fourth on the team with 19 points. Black has been the most frequent Little Rock visitor to the free throw line as well, hitting 11 of his 17 attempts, which is more than double the next closest attempts by a Trojan.
BIG SHOWING FOR CORCORANÂ
Freshman
Cameron Corcoran saw his most significant playing time as a Trojan against Grand Canyon and made the most of his time. The Orlando, Florida, native finished with a career-best seven points and was perfect in his shots, hitting a three-point attempt and going 4-for-4 from the free throw line in eight minutes of work. The game in Phoenix also marked
Khari Harley's Trojan debut as he finished with two rebounds and four personal fouls in four minutes.
WELCOME TO THE ROCK
Little Rock has a lot of new faces on their roster this year as the 11 newcomers is tied with Pitt for the most among Division I programs. One of the nation's most inexperienced teams, the Trojans return just 27.4 percent of its minutes and 24.2 percent of its scoring from 2016-17. Junior
Deondre Burns is Little Rock's top returning scorer, averaging 7.0 points per game last season, but has yet to play this season recovering from an offseason injury. Redshirt junior
Oliver Black posted 4.2 points and 3.3 rebounds while shooting 55.1 percent from the floor while sophomore
Andre Jones looks to build on his 3.5 points and 1.6 rebound average.
REPRESENTING THE NATURAL STATE
Little Rock basketball has established a strong tradition, and in recent years, the Trojans have continued to make their mark on college basketball. Since the 2010-11 season, Little Rock's 124 wins ranks second among Division I teams in the state of Arkansas as the Trojans are one of just two Natural State institutions to make a pair of NCAA Tournaments during that span, doing so in 2011 and 2016.
TROJANS AGAINST THE WCC
Little Rock has a limited history against the West Coast Conference, compiling a 6-5 all-time record against current members of the league. The most common foe has been Pepperdine with the Trojans splitting six meetings against the Waves, including a 66-65 loss last season at the Lone Star Classic. Loyola-Marymount is the only other school Little Rock has faced twice, winning both meetings against the Lions, adding a victory over St. Mary's in 1989. The Trojans are 0-1 all-time against both BYU and Gonzaga.
CLOSING IN ON 1,000
As the 2017-18 campaign gets underway, an impressive program milestone sits in the not-too-distant horizon for
Wes Flanigan's squad. Entering its 80th season, Little Rock has compiled an overall program record of 989-1,004 (.496), sitting just 11 wins shy of reaching 1,000 victories. The Trojans have accumulated 35 winning seasons in program history and have won 20 or more games 11 times, highlighted by the memorable 30-win campaign in 2016-17. The Trojans will also hit another big milestone on December 9 as the game in Conway against Central Arkansas will mark the 2,000th game in program history.
THEIR CITY. THEIR TEAM.
The Trojans have made an assertive effort to be known as Little Rocks Team, and that focus is apparent by looking at the Trojan roster. Six Trojans hail from the state of Arkansas, including five who played their high school ball in the city of Little Rock (
Kris Bankston - J.A. Fair H.S.;
Anthony Black - Hall H.S.;
Andre Jones - Malvern H.S.;
Ryan Pippins - Parkview H.S.;
Brandon Brady - Pulaski Academy). The other native Arkansan is
Ben Marcus, a native of Pine Bluff who played at Watson Chapel H.S.
TROJANS PICKED 10TH IN PRESEASON POLL
Little Rock enters 2017-18 knowing it will have its work cut out for it as the Trojans were picked 10th in the preseason Sun Belt Conference poll. The Trojans, who finished 15-17 and 6-12 in league play in 2016-17, garnered 37 points, sitting two ahead of 11th-place Appalachian State and six behind ninth-place South Alabama. UT Arlington was tabbed as the favorite to win the Sun Belt, picking up nine first place votes and 128 total points, with Georgia State (116 pts.), Troy (115 pts.), Georgia Southern (114 pts.) and Louisiana (113 pts.) separated by just three points in the number two through five position.
HOME SWEET HOME
Following a three-game road swing, Little Rock now returns to the Rock, playing its next four games inside the friendly confines of the Jack Stephens Center. The Trojans continue the Grand Canyon Classic on its home court, hosting Robert Morris on Saturday, November 25 at 3 p.m. before welcoming Norfolk State to the Jack at 3 p.m. on Sunday, November 26. Prior to Little Rock's two home contests, Robert Morris and Norfolk State square off in a neutral site matchup on Friday, November 24, tipping at 5 p.m. at the Jack Stephens Center.
#LittleRocksTeam
