Trojans Have Home Win Streak Snapped by Idaho

LITTLE ROCK – Little Rock (2-1) couldn't overcome a poor shooting night in a 65-57 loss to Idaho (2-1) on Friday night at the Jack Stephens Center. The loss was the Trojans' first at home since Feb. 14, 2015, snapping the nation's eighth-longest home win streak at 18 games.
 
The Trojans finished the game shooting 31.1 percent from the floor and 20 percent from 3. Marcus Johnson Jr. led all players with 23 points. Lis Shoshi posted a double-double with 11 points and a career high-matching 16 rebounds. Shoshi added three blocks.
 
Little Rock turned it over just 10 times on the night.
 
Down eight at halftime, Little Rock opened the second half by scoring the first six points. The Trojans continued to chip away, tying the game at 34-all on consecutive baskets by Johnson with 13:22 to play.
 
Idaho answered with a 7-0 run, eventually going up nine with 7:31 left. Little Rock responded with its own 7-point spurt later in the half, pulling within two twice. The final time, Kemy Osse's 3-pointer with 2:43 to play cut the deficit to 55-53.
 
The Trojans found themselves within three with 1:21 to play, but consecutive turnovers led to Idaho pushing its lead to seven with 25 seconds to play.
 
Victor Sanders led the Vandals with 20 points on 5-of-11 shooting. Nate Sherwood added 14 while Arkadiy Mkrtychan scored 11 to give Idaho three players in double figures.
 
Idaho led Little Rock 29-21 at halftime. The Vandals finished the half shooting 34.6 percent, but the Trojans shot just 25.8 percent from the floor while making 2 of 12 from 3-point range.
                                                 
A 12-0 run by the Vandals midway through the first half pushed Idaho's lead to 25-14. The Trojans went over eight minutes without a point during the Vandals' spurt. Little Rock scored the final four points of the half to cut the deficit to eight at the break.
 
Little Rock returns to action on Monday at 5 p.m. when it faces St. Bonaventure in the first game of the Lone Star Showcase in Cedar Park, Texas. Each of the Lone Star Showcase games will be streamed live through YouTube.