GM19: Little Rock (16-2, 6-1 SBC) at UT Arlington (14-3, 5-1 SBC)
Saturday, Jan. 23 | 7:15 p.m. (CST)
Arlington, Texas | College Park Center (7,000)
Radio: The Point 94.1 FM / KKPT.com
Talent: Ray Tucker (PxP)
Live Stats | Live Video | Game Notes LITTLE ROCK – The two teams at the top of the Sun Belt standings face off Saturday at College Park Center when UT Arlington hosts Little Rock. Tipoff is set for 7:15 p.m.
Little Rock sits alone atop the league standings with a 6-1 mark in conference play while UT Arlington is just half a game back at 5-1. The Mavericks are coming off a 91-64 home win over Arkansas State on Thursday night.
The Trojans, meanwhile, are on the heels of a 77-74 overtime win at Texas State.
Josh Hagins' step-back 3-pointer as time expired lifted Little Rock to its 16
th victory of the season. The game saw the Trojans trail by as many as 14 points, including a 10-point deficit at halftime. Little Rock's defense limited Texas State to just five made field goals in the second half. The Trojans did just enough to force overtime before finding their stride in the extra period, hitting 7 of 8 shots from the floor including a perfect 4-of-4 effort from 3-point range over the final five minutes.
The Trojans and Mavericks have traveled different paths to success this season. The Mavs rank 23
rd nationally with 82.3 ppg, while Little Rock's top-ranked scoring defense has limited teams to just 57.9 ppg on the year. Despite the contrasting styles, the numbers predict an even matchup on Saturday. The NCAA's RPI has UTA at No. 74 and Little Rock at No. 76. KenPom.com has the two programs right next to one another, with the Mavs at No. 54 and the Trojans at No. 55.
In addition to its strong offensive play, UTA ranks in the top-20 nationally in scoring margin (15.7), rebounding margin (10.4), assists per game (17.9), steals per game (8.5) and defensive field goal percentage (.387).
Kevin Hervey is averaging 18.1 points and 9.8 rebounds on 45.3 percent shooting from the floor. Erick Neal (13.1 ppg) and Jalen Jones (11.2 ppg) both average double figures, while two more Mavs score at least 8.6 ppg.
UTA leads the series with Little Rock 4-1 and has won three straight matchups. The Trojans' last win vs. the Mavericks came on Jan. 4, 2014, when Hagins' buzzer-beater lifted Little Rock to a 72-70 win at College Park Center.
Quick Hits• Little Rock is off to its best start in program history and is one of nine teams in the nation with a record of 16-2 or better (.889).
• Just nine teams in the nation currently have more wins than Little Rock (16).
• Little Rock is tied with Monmouth and Navy for the most true road victories nationally (8).
• Little Rock (6-1) is in first place in the SBC standings.
• A win Saturday would give Little Rock its second 7-1 start to Sun Belt play in program history (2007-08).
• Little Rock's scoring defense ranks first nationally (57.9 ppg) and its defensive FG% (.374) ranks 10th.
• Little Rock is 16th in the nation in free throw percentage (.751 and seventh in turnover margin (5.3).
• Little Rock leads the SBC in scoring defense, defensive FG%, turnovers per game (10.2), turnover margin, and free throw percentage.
• Little Rock's 10-0 start to the season established new program and Sun Belt Conference records.
• 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.
