Trojans Look to Rebound at Texas State Thursday

Game Notes
 
GM18: Little Rock (15-2, 5-1 SBC) at Texas State (8-6, 2-3 SBC)
Thursday, Jan. 21 | 7:30 p.m. (CST)
San Marcos, Texas | Strahan Coliseum (7,200)
Radio: The Point 94.1 FM / KKPT.com
Talent: Ray Tucker (PxP)
Live Stats | Live Video
 
LITTLE ROCK – Little Rock enters Thursday's game at Texas State in a tie for first place in the league standings and with a chance for its second-ever 6-1 start to Sun Belt Conference play. The Trojans and Bobcats tip off at 7:30 p.m. from Strahan Coliseum.
 
The Trojans are coming off just their second loss of the season, a 76-73 defeat at Arkansas State on Monday night. Little Rock outscored A-State 43-28 after halftime, but it wasn't enough to overcome an 18-point hole it found itself in after 20 minutes. The Trojans pulled within a point with a minute to play, and had a chance to tie the score on the game's final possession.
 
Four Trojans scored in double figures in the defeat, including Roger Woods and Josh Hagins with 16 points each. It was Woods' third game in the last four scoring 16 points off the bench. Kemy Osse (13) and Mareik Isom (12) both turned in season-high scoring performances.
 
The loss snapped a five-game win streak for Little Rock. Before this season, the Trojans had not put together five consecutive victories since the 2011-12 season. They have now done it twice in 2015-16, with the first streak extending to a program-record matching 10 games to start the year.
 
Texas State is 8-6 overall and 2-3 in Sun Belt play entering Thursday's matchup. The Bobcats have picked up wins over Georgia Southern and South Alabama thus far in the conference season.
 
Picked to finish eighth in a preseason vote among coaches, Texas State's roster features Preseason First Team All-Sun Belt pick Emani Gant. Gant is averaging 14.9 points and 7.7 rebounds on the season. Over half of his rebounds have come on the offensive end.
 
The Bobcats are 5-1 at home on the year, with the lone loss coming against Georgia State on Jan. 2. Texas State's scoring defense (60.7 ppg) ranks seventh nationally, while its turnover margin (3.8) is 14th.
 
Little Rock leads 6-1 in the all-time series with Texas State. Last season, the Bobcats earned their first win in the series with a double-overtime victory at Strahan Coliseum. The Trojans avenged the loss at the JSC later in the year to split the season series.
 
Quick Hits
• Little Rock is off to its best start in program history and is one of 15 teams in the nation with a record of 15-2 or better (.882).
• Little Rock is 5-1 in Sun Belt play and currently tied for first place in the league standings.
• Little Rock's 10-0 start to the season established new program and Sun Belt Conference records.
• A win Thursday would give Little Rock its eighth true road victory of the season, matching Monmouth for the national lead.
• A win Thursday would give Little Rock its second 6-1 start to Sun Belt play in program history.
• Little Rock's scoring defense ranks first nationally (56.9 ppg) and its defensive FG% (.371) ranks sixth.
• Little Rock is third in the nation in free throw percentage (.776) and fifth in turnover margin (5.6).
• Little Rock leads the SBC in scoring defense, defensive FG%, turnovers per game (10.0) , turnover margin, assist-to-turnover ratio (1.3) and free throw percentage.
• 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.