BOONE, N.C. – Little Rock suffered another heartbreaking defeat Thursday night, this one coming in overtime at the Trojans fall to Appalachian State 72-67 at the Holmes Convocation Center.
The loss drops Little Rock to 5-16 on the year and 2-6 in Sun Belt Conference play as the Trojans are still seeking their first road win on the season. Appalachian State snaps a four-game losing skid and improves to 9-13 overall and 4-5 in league play.
Similar to its game against Arkansas State Saturday, Little Rock raced out to a 13-point first half lead and led by as many as 11 in the second half before an extended rally by the Mountaineers. After going back and forth over the final four minutes, the Trojans had a chance to win the game in regulation but
Jaizec Lotties driving layup was blocked in the waning seconds, forcing overtime.
Appalachian State scored the first four in the overtime period before the Trojans rallied to tie the game at 65-65 with just over a minute remaining. But Little Rock couldn't get over the hump as costly turnovers and key free throws by the Mountaineers preserved the victory.
Little Rock finished the game 23-of-65 from the floor (35.4%) and were 8-of-23 (34.8%) from three-point range, going 2-for-13 in the second half and overtime. The Trojans did convert 13 of 20 free throw attempts (65.0%) on the night.
Appalachian State's struggles from the floor were even greater than Little Rock's as the Mountaineers made just 23 of their 70 attempts (32.9%) while going 7-of-29 (24.1%) from three-point range. But App State held a 54-43 edge in rebounds, including a 19-11 edge in offensive boards.
Three Trojans finished in double figures, led by a career-high 16 points from
Wadly Mompremier, who was 5-of-6 from the floor and 2-for-3 from three-point range, adding six rebounds and a pair of blocks.
Andre Jones finished with 15 points, scoring five in the overtime period, but connecting on just six of his 23 attempts from the floor.
Camron Reedus posted 11 points for the Trojans with
Jaizec Lottie adding eight points and four rebounds.
Kris Bankston led the team with nine rebounds, tying his career-high, with three blocks while
Cameron Corcoran added seven points and a pair of rebounds.
The tilt in Boone started out similarly to the Trojans' contest with Arkansas State last Saturday as Little Rock raced out to an early 13-point lead at 31-18, then again at 33-20 near the midway point of the opening half. Mompremier was a major factor in that surge, scoring 10 of his 16 points in a five-minute span to help the Trojans build the early advantage.
An extended scoring drought, something that has plagued the Trojans all year, once again struck over the final minutes of the first half, allowing Appalachian State to string together a 10-0 run and trim the Trojans' lead to 33-30 with just over two minutes to go. But the Trojans held off the surge, taking a 38-32 lead in to the halftime break.
Early in the second half, Little Rock's momentum continued as the Trojans pushed its lead back to 11 at 43-32 over the opening three minutes.
But Appalachian State began to slowly chip away at the lead, outscoring Little Rock 22-10 over the next 10 minutes to reclaim the lead at 55-53, holding the Trojans scoreless for over five minutes as Little Rock missed 11-straight field goal attempts.
The final five minutes saw the Trojans and Mountaineers combine for four ties and four lead changes with both teams struggling from the floor culminating in Mompremier hitting one of two free throws with 44 seconds left to tie the game, setting up the dramatic finish.
While not achieving the outcome it wanted, Little Rock's defense once again held a team under its season scoring average. The Mountaineers came in averaging nearly 78 points a game but were held to 59 in regulation and 72 for the game, marking the 15th time in 21 games Little Rock has held a team under its average.
Little Rock returns to action Saturday afternoon, making the trip south to Conway, South Carolina for a showdown with Coastal Carolina. The Chanticleers defeated Arkansas State 62-47 Thursday evening to improve to 9-13 overall and 3-6 in Sun Belt play. Opening tip from the HTC Center is set for 2:30 p.m. CT.
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