Trojans Hold On for 58-57 Win Over ULM

LITTLE ROCK – ULM (6-9, 2-2 SBC) had three chances at the go-ahead basket on the game's final possession, but Lis Shoshi's rebound with a second to play secured a 58-57 win for Little Rock (14-1, 4-0 SBC) in front of 3,629 fans at the Jack Stephens Center on Saturday. Six players scored at least eight points for the Trojans.
 
"I think (ULM) is one of the best teams in our conference for a reason," head coach Chris Beard said following the game. "They're very well coached. We're similar to each other in that both of us our disciplined teams on offense and defense. We knew it was going to be a real grind of a game."
 
Little Rock trailed 50-49 with 3:46 to play. Coming out of the final media timeout, the Trojans used a 3-pointer by Mareik Isom to retake the lead and a basket by Jalen Jackson with 2:54 to play to go up 54-51.
 
ULM went to Majok Deng, the Sun Belt's leading scorer, on its next possession, who was fouled and made both free throws to make it a one-point game. Consecutive baskets by Shoshi and Mareik Isom gave Little Rock buckets on four straight possessions to put the Trojans up 58-53 with 1:24 to play.
 
Deng scored on ULM's next trip and a missed 3-pointer by Josh Hagins on the Trojans' following possession set up a jumper by Justin Roberson that made it a one-point game with 17 seconds remaining.
 
ULM fouled Little Rock four times to put the Trojans in the bonus, and Hagins went to the line for a 1-and-1 with nine seconds on the clock. His first free throw rimmed out, and ULM raced down the court for the go-ahead basket. Jamaal Samuel got the first look from 3, and both Roberson and Nick Coppola both had chances in the paint off of offensive rebounds in the final seconds.
 
After Coppola's final miss, Shoshi grabbed the rebound and took one dribble as time expired.
 
As time expired, Beard gave a fist pump to the JSC crowd.
 
"Really, the first pump was for our fans," Beard said. "I think we're really developing a great home court. There was a couple times tonight, especially in the first half, where it started to feel like a real college basketball game. And that's what it should feel like here. We've got a great facility. We've got a great city. We've got a lot of people in town that are starting to really, really help us."
 
The win improves Little Rock to 4-0 in Sun Belt play for just the third time since moving to the league in 1991, and the first time since the 2011-12 season.
 
The Trojans finished the night shooting 23 of 53 from the floor (.434) and made just 4 of 10 foul shots. Little Rock 15-10 in points off turnovers and finished with just eight miscues, giving it eight games on the year with fewer than 10 turnovers.
 
Shoshi led the Trojans with 10 poiints and seven rebounds. Hagins and Marcus Johnson Jr. scored nine points each. Isom, Jackson and Kemy Osse all contributed eight points.
 
Roberson (17) and Deng (15) combined for 32 points as ULM shot 22 of 50 (.440) from the floor. Jamaal Samuel added 10 points for the Warhawks.
 
Little Rock found itself facing a 14-point deficit in the first half. Down 25-11 with 7:41 to play in the half, Little Rock used a 14-0 run to tie the game with less than two minutes until halftime. Baskets by Ruttley, Shoshi and Hagins started the run, while 3-pointers from Jackson and Isom pushed the spurt to 12-0. A steal and finish by Jackson capped the push by Little Rock and tied the score at 25-all with 1:24 to play in the half.
 
ULM missed five straight shots and committed four turnovers during Little Rock's run. A layup by Deng on ULM's next possession made it a 27-25 game entering intermission.
 
After ULM opened the second half with a basket, Little Rock used a 12-0 run to take its first lead since the opening minutes. Maurius Hill started the spurt with a right-handed finish at the rim, and Osse furthered it by scoring eight straight points to force a ULM timeout. Osse's steal and finish was followed with back-to-back made 3-pointers to put the Trojans up 35-29.
 
After the Warhawks' timeout, Hagins' basket off a ULM turnover capped the 12-0 push.
 
Little Rock returns to action on Thursday, Jan. 14 when it hosts Appalachian State at the Jack Stephens Center. Tipoff is set for 7:15 p.m.