Little Rock Blows By South Alabama, 73-56

LITTLE ROCK – Little Rock (12-7, 3-3 SBC) shot 52 percent in the second half to run away with a 73-56 win over South Alabama (9-10, 2-4 SBC) on Saturday night at the Jack Stephens Center. Marcus Johnson Jr. scored 22 points on 7-of-13 shooting to lead all scorers.
 
The Trojans' defense turned in one of its best performances of the season, limiting South Alabama to 35.3 percent shooting from the floor and 26.7 percent from 3-point range.
 
Little Rock connected on 7 of 19 shots from deep and made 18 of 20 (.900) free throws on the night.
 
Jalen Jackson scored 16 points and grabbed a career high-matching eight rebounds as the only other Trojan in double figures.
 
The Trojans outrebounded the Jaguars 39-29 on the night. Little Rock assisted on 13 of its 24 made field goals.
 
Leading by 11 at halftime, Little Rock pulled away early in the second half. The lead grew to 20 just over seven minutes into the second half. Ben Marcus' dunk capped a 13-1 Trojans run that made it 58-33 with 9:52 to play.
 
Little Rock's lead grew as large as 27 after Kemy Osse's triple made it 63-36 with 8:00 to play.
 
Ken Williams and Don MuepoKelly scored 10 points each to lead the Jaguars on offense.
 
Little Rock took a 33-22 lead into halftime, its largest of the game to that point. The Trojans scored the final five points of the half thanks to a 3-pointer from Osse and free throws by Johnson.
 
South Alabama shot 33.3 percent (8 of 24) over the first 20 minutes and was 0 of 7 from 3-point range. Little Rock shot 40.7 percent (11 of 27) while making 3 of 10 from deep. The Trojans also make 8 of 9 free throws in the half.
 
Little Rock returns to action against Troy on Monday at the Jack Stephens Center. Tipoff is 6:30 p.m.
 
Sun Belt Championship Tickets
 
The 2017 Sun Belt Conference Men's and Women's Basketball Championships are scheduled for a week of March Madness in the Big Easy.  New Orleans will once again be home to the two championships that will take place at Lakefront Arena from March 7-12 and ticket books can now be purchased from your school's ticket office.  For more information, visit the Sun Belt Conference's championship central websites - Men's Championship – Women's Championship – and be sure to follow the #FunBelt on social media – @SunBelt.