LITTLE ROCK – Little Rock officially opens its 2016-17 season on Saturday at 3 p.m. vs. Central Baptist at the Jack Stephens Center.
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Saturday's game will be a part of the University's Homecoming festivities. Tailgating in the Jack Stephens Center parking lot will start at 11 a.m. Food trucks in attendance on Saturday include Little Penguin, Hot Rod, Fork in the Road, Katmandu, Wok and Roll, Slader's, Blackhound, Roxy's, Southern Gourmasian, Loblolly and Excaliburger.
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A Homecoming T-shirt giveaway will be offered while supplies last. The Junior Trojans Club Kids Zone will also make its 2016-17 debut on Saturday.
Due to station conflicts, Saturday's game will be broadcasted on The Ride 106.7 FM.
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Little Rock pulled away from UA Monticello in an 81-53 exhibition win on Tuesday night.
Jalen Jackson totaled 16 points while
Marcus Johnson Jr. added 15.
Kemy Osse (14) and
Maurius Hill (11) gave the Trojans four players in double figures.
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NAIA member Central Baptist is 3-1 on the season following a win over Williams Baptist on Thursday night. The Mustangs also have wins over Ecclesia College and Paul Quinn College on the season.
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Central Baptist is averaging 88.5 points and shooting 46.2 percent from the floor through four games. Led by Fred Albright (17.0 ppg), four Mustangs are averaging double figures in scoring.
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Quick Hits
• Coming off of its best season in program history, Little Rock has been picked to finish second in the Sun Belt Conference preseason coaches poll.
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Marcus Johnson Jr. was voted Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team after averaging 12.5 points and leading the Sun Belt in 3-point percentage (.466) in 2015-16.
• Despite losing two of their top three scorers, the Trojans return eight lettermen, six seniors and three starters in 2016-17.
• Last season, Little Rock won the Sun Belt Conference regular-season and tournament championships and beat Purdue in the NCAA Tournament first round.
• Little Rock went 30-5 last season, establishing program and conference records for wins in a season.
• The Trojans' five losses last season tied with Villanova, Kansas and SMU for the fewest in the nation.
• Little Rock enters Saturday's game vs. Central Baptist having won 16 consecutive home games, including a perfect 14-0 record last year.
• Head coach
Wes Flanigan enters his first season at the helm after serving as associate head coach on Little Rock's record-breaking 2015-16 team.
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