Trojans Face Tulsa Saturday on ESPN3

Game Notes

GM5: Little Rock (4-0) at Tulsa (4-1)
Saturday, Nov. 28 | 3 p.m. (CST)
Tulsa, Okla. | Donald W. Reynolds Center (8,355)
TV: ESPN3
Talent: Jonathan Yardley (PxP) and Bryndon Manzer (analyst)
Radio: The Point 94.1 FM / KKPT.com
Talent: Ray Tucker (PxP)
Live Video | Live Stats
 
LITTLE ROCK – The Little Rock men's basketball team will look to match its best start in program history when it takes on Tulsa this Saturday at 3 p.m. on ESPN3. A win would match the 2008-09 teams and 1994-95 teams for the only 5-0 starts since the program moved to Division I.
 
Little Rock's defense through four games has been among the best in the nation. The Trojans' scoring defense (48.8 ppg) is tops in the country, while the team's defensive field goal percentage (.327) ranks 11^th. Little Rock has not allowed any of its four opponents to score more than 57 points or shoot better than 37.3 percent from the floor.
 
Against East Carolina on Thursday, the Trojans overcame an eight-point halftime deficit to earn a 54-46 come-from-behind win. Little Rock outscored ECU 39-23 and forced the Pirates into 16 turnovers after halftime. The Trojans played the second half without a turnover and finished with just six for the full game. Marcus Johnson Jr. (13) and Josh Hagins (11) scored in double figures to pace the Trojans on offense.
 
Quick Hits
• Little Rock improved to 4-0 for the first time since 2008-09 with a 54-46 win over East Carolina in the Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational on Saturday.
• The victory gives Little Rock its first four-game win streak since the 2011-12 season, and just the sixth 4-0 start to a season since moving to Division I in 1978-79.
• A win vs. Tulsa on Saturday would match Little Rock's 2008-09 and 1994-95 squads for the best start to a season in program history.
• According to the NCAA's most recent information, Little Rock leads the nation in scoring defense (48.8 ppg) ranks 11th nationally in defensive FG% (.327).
• Little Rock has not allowed an opponent to score more than 57 points or shoot better than 37.3 percent from the floor this season.
• The Trojans also rank in the top-20 nationally in scoring margin and turnover margin.
• Head coach Chris 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 145-45 (.763) in six-plus seasons as a head coach.
 
About Tulsa (4-1 Overall)
Little Rock and Tulsa will face off in the Reynolds Center on Saturday at 3 p.m. The meeting will be the ninth meeting between the teams since 2006. Tulsa holds a 5-3 edge in the series and has won two straight.
 
Led by head coach Frank Haith, Tulsa was picked to finish fourth in the American Athletic Conference. Tulsa went 23-11 overall and 14-4 in league play a season ago and advanced to the second round of the NIT. All five starters from last year's team return.
 
Paced by Shaquille Harrison on offense, Tulsa's roster features four players averaging double figures. Harrison leads the way at 23.4 ppg, while James Woodard, Pat Birt and Marquel Curtis all average 10-plus. Woodard and Harrison are both Preseason All-American Athletic Conference picks.
 
As a team, the Hurricane are scoring 81.4 points per game and shooting 46.7 percent. Tulsa's defense is forcing an average of 15.6 turnovers per game.
 
More on East Carolina Win
Down eight and shooting just 3-of-25 at halftime, Little Rock outscored East Carolina 39-23 and allowed the Pirates just four made field goals over the final 20 minutes.
 
Marcus Johnson Jr. (11), Josh Hagins (9) and Kemy Osse (7) combined for 27 of the Trojans' 39 points after the break.
 
Little Rock forced ECU into 16 turnovers in the second half while the Trojans had no miscues after halftime.
 
Limiting Mistakes
Little Rock is averaging just 10.5 turnovers per game with a +8.5 turnover margin through four games.
 
The Trojans committed zero turnovers in the first half at San Diego State before repeating the effort in the second half of their game vs. East Carolina.
 
Hot Start
Little Rock is 4-0 for the first time since the 2008-09 season and just the sixth time in its DI era.
 
A win Saturday would match Little Rock's 2008-09 and 1994-95 teams for the best start to a season in program history.
 
Defensive Intensity
Little Rock leads the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 48.8 ppg by its opponents through four games.
 
According to the NCAA's most recent statistical information, the Trojans rank 11th in defensive FG% (.327) and are tied for 29th in steals per game (9.3).