Trojans Keep Rolling With 66-44 Win at DePaul

CHICAGO, Ill. – Little Rock became one of just six teams in the nation to boast a record of 8-0 or better following a 66-44 win at DePaul (5-4) on Saturday in McGrath-Phillips Arena. Little Rock's defense, which entered the game ranked first nationally, held the Blue Demons to their lowest point total since 2009.
 
"It was a big win for us because we have so much respect for DePaul's program," head coach Chris Beard said following the win. "They have a storied history here and some really good players and we knew were going to have to play really well to be in the game, and in a lot of ways that's what we did. We're just pleased to get a victory against a well-coached team."
 
The win extends Little Rock's record start to a season, and is the first eight-game win streak since the 1988-89 season. The 4-0 start on the road is the best in program history, and matches Navy for the best road record in the country this season.
 
"It sounds like a coaching cliché, but it's just the truth," Beard said. "We talk a lot about the process. We never talk about anything but the next game. We never talk about anything but trying to improve that day. When you do that, the byproduct can be winning."
 
The Trojans led by nine at halftime and outscored DePaul 34-21 after the break. Little Rock wasted little time extending its lead, starting the second half with an 18-4 run to effectively put the game out of reach.
 
The Blue Demons finished the game shooting 38.6 percent and made just 1 of 11 3-point shots. Billy Garrett, a Preseason All-BIG EAST selection who came in averaging 15.6 points, was held to two points on 1-of-6 shooting.
 
The Trojans led for all but 1:14 of the game and led by double digits for all but 1:58 of the second half.
 
Little Rock turned it over just nine times and forced DePaul into 20 miscues. Little Rock led 27-2 in points off turnovers.
 
Josh Hagins led the Trojans with 19 points on 6-of-10 shooting to go along with eight assists and two steals. Marcus Johnson Jr. scored 13 points to give Little Rock two players in double figures.
 
The Trojans finished the game shooting 40.7 percent, including 44.0 percent after halftime. Little Rock came into the game ranked second nationally in free throw shooting percentage and finished the game 16 of 20 at the foul line.
 
Little Rock opened the second half on an 18-4 run to build its 32-23 cushion at the break into a 50-27 lead. Hagins' fading jumper at the 11:31 mark swelled the Trojans' lead to 21. Johnson added two free throws less than 30 seconds later to push the advantage to 23 points. Johnson's 3-pointer with 2:11 to play put Little Rock up 64-41 to match the 23-point margin.
 
A 9-0 run midway through the first half allowed Little Rock to turn a 10-9 deficit into an 18-10 lead. The Trojans' defense forced DePaul into six straight missed shots and four turnovers over the course of the run.
 
Little Rock returns to action on Wednesday, Dec. 16 when it travels to Conway to face Central Arkansas.