Box Score LITTLE
ROCK
- UALR (2-2) used a strong defensive effort to hold Milwaukee (2-2) to 33
percent shooting from the field and 23 percent shooting from three-point range
and earn a 59-43 win over the visiting Panthers Monday night at the Jack
Stephens Center as part of the Hoops for Hope Classic. Junior Will Neighbour led all players with a
season-high 17 points, while junior Leroy
Isler chipped in with career-high 13 points, five rebounds and four steals
in his first career start.
The Panthers entered Monday's contest shooting 41.4
percent from the field and 41.5 percent from three-point range, but were held
to season-low efforts in both categories by a UALR defense that forced Milwaukee
into a season-high 19 turnovers.
Freshman James
White scored seven points, grabbed six rebounds and blocked two shots in
what was also the first start of his career. Freshman John Gillon totaled nine points, four rebounds and three assists
while getting the start at point guard. Sophomore Ben Dillard came off the bench to score seven points on 3-of-5
shooting.
UALR finished the night with a season-best 51.1 (24-of-47)
shooting percentage from the field.
Neighbour scored 13 of his season-high 17 points over
the final 20 minutes of the contest. The Grayshott, England-native finished the
night 8-of-15 from the field and pulled down six rebounds, had two steals and
blocked a shot.
The Trojans' offense was strong from the opening tip.
UALR used buckets by Neighbour and Isler to build a quick 6-0 lead just over
four minutes into the contest before eventually going up by as many as eight on
a three-pointer by Gillon that made it 21-13 at the 7:04 mark. Milwaukee closed
the half on a 5-0 run to trim to Trojans' lead to two, 25-23, heading into
intermission.
Milwaukee tied the score on a pair of free throws by
Demetrius Harris in the first minute of the second half, but UALR answered with
five-straight points to go back up 30-25.
Although Milwaukee would never take the lead, the
Panthers did force three tie scores over the final 20 minutes. Aaron Jordan's
jumper knotted the score at 32 at the 13:34 mark, but UALR answered with an 8-0
run to go up 40-32. Milwaukee would get no closer than three the rest of the
way, as Neighbour closed the game with six points over the final 4:39 to seal
the win for UALR.
Harris finished with 15 points on 6-of-13 shooting to
lead the Panthers on offense. Jordan and Arians had 13 each to give Milwaukee
three players in double figures on the night. Jordan and Arians combined to
knock down all five treys for Milwaukee.
UALR was outrebounded 35-29 on the night, as three
players Christian Wolf and Kyle Kelm led Milwaukee with six boards each.
UALR's 10 steals were a season best.
The Trojans will continue the Hoops for Hope Classic on
Wednesday night when they host Jacksonville at the Jack Stephens Center
following the conclusion of the UALR women's team's game against Oral Roberts. UALR
will continue the Hoops for Hope Classic with a trip to Puerto Vallarta,Mexico
to play SMU on Saturday.
