Trojans to Face San Diego State on Fox Sports SD

Game Notes

GM3: Little Rock (2-0) at San Diego State (2-1)
Saturday, Nov. 21 | 3 p.m. (CST)
San Diego, Calif. | Viejas Arena (12,414)
Radio: The Point 94.1 FM / KKPT.com
Talent: Ray Tucker (PxP)
Television: Fox Sports San Diego
Talent: Eddie Doucette, Brad Holland, John Kentera
Live Stats | Live Video
 
LITTLE ROCK – The Little Rock men's basketball team will play its first road game under new head coach Chris Beard at 3 p.m. on Saturday at San Diego State. The game will be televised on Fox Sports San Diego and live streamed for free through the Mountain West Network.
 
The Trojans are coming off a 95-49 win over Centenary on Wednesday night that saw the team score its most points in regulation in three seasons and Marcus Johnson Jr. produce the first 30-point game by a Little Rock player since Will Neighbour in Jan. 2014.
 
Balance has been the story for the Little Rock offense through two games. Six players have scored in double figures and six players are averaging at least 8.5 points per game. The Trojans are assisting on 55.0 percent of their made field goals and totaled 22 helpers on Wednesday night, the program's most since the 2013-14 season.
 
San Diego State is off to a 2-1 start after being picked to win the Mountain West Conference. Preseason All-MWC selection Winston Shepard is averaging 11.5 points, 7.5 rebounds through three games. The Aztecs are 145-16 (.900) at home since the start of the 2005-06 season, the seventh-best mark nationally.
 
As an assistant under Bobby Knight at Texas Tech, Beard helped the Red Raiders win four straight games against the Aztecs, including one matchup at Cox Arena (now known as Viejas Arena). Saturday's contest will be the first-ever meeting between Little Rock and San Diego State.
 
Quick Hits
• Little Rock improved to 2-0 on the season with a 95-49 win over Centenary at the Jack Stephens Center on Wednesday, Nov. 18.
• The 46-point victory margin was largest for a Trojan team since 2012.
• Newcomer Marcus Johnson Jr. totaled 30 points (11-13 FGs, 7-8 3FGs) in the win. Johnson's 30 points are the most by a Sun Belt player in a game this season.
• New head coach Chris Beard is the 21st head coach in program history and the ninth of its Division I era.
• Six Little Rock players have scored in double figures through the first two games and six are averaging at least 8.5 points per game.
• Beard comes to Little Rock after two seasons at Angelo State, where he went 47-15 and led ASU to the 2015 NCAA Division II Sweet Sixteen and No. 19 national ranking in 2014-15.
• Beard sports a record of 143-45 (.760) in six-plus seasons as a head coach.
• Little Rock's 2015-16 roster features 10 newcomers, including seven with immediate eligibility.
• Little Rock returns four lettermen and three redshirt players from its 2014-15 squad.
 
About San Diego State
San Diego State, the preseason pick to win the Mountain West Conference in 2015-16, is 2-1 on the season with wins over Illinois State and San Diego Christian to its credit. The Aztecs fell 81-76 at No. 16 Utah on Nov. 16 for their lone loss of the season. Preseason All-MWC selection Winston Shepard is averaging 11.5 points, 7.5 rebounds through three games.
 
San Diego State is coming off its sixth straight NCAA Tournament appearance and has reached the NCAA Round of 32 each of the last three seasons. The Aztecs are 145-16 (.900) at home since the start of the 2005-06 season, the seventh-best mark nationally. Head coach Steve Fisher is in his 17th season at SDSU.
 
Little Rock head coach Chris Beard spent 10 seasons as an assistant at Texas Tech (2001-11) under head coaches Bobby Knight and Pat Knight. Early in Beard's tenure, Texas Tech beat San Diego State in four straight matchups spanning 2001-04. The streak included Texas Tech topping San Diego State 75-63 on Jan. 6, 2003 in Cox Arena to snap SDSU's six-game home winning streak.
 
Little Rock vs. Centenary
Little Rock's 95-49 win over Centenary was its largest margin of victory (46 points) since a 91-30 win over St. Gregory's in Dec. 2012. The Trojans' 95 points were the program's most in a regulation game since scoring 102 vs. St. Gregory's in Dec. 2011.
 
Little Rock connected on 14 3-pointers in the win. The Trojans have only hit 14 or more 3-pointers in a game five times since the start of the 2001 season.
 
Johnson Jr. vs. Centenary
Marcus Johnson Jr. scored 30 points in just 22 minutes of work vs. Centenary, shooting 11 of 13 from the floor and 7 of 8 from 3-point range.
 
Johnson becomes one of just seven Little Rock players to score 30 or more in a game since 2001. His seven 3-pointers are tied for third-most over that span, and are just one shy of the Jack Stephens Center record.
 
Balanced Offense
Little Rock is averaging 85.5 points per game through two contests, with six players averaging 8.5 points or better.
 
Little Rock is shooting 46.5 percent from the floor and 40.4 percent from the 3-point line.
 
The Trojans have assisted on 55.0 percent of their made baskets and have racked up 22 assists vs. Centenary on Wednesday, the program's most since it had 23 vs. Grambling in Dec. 2013.