OPENING TIP
Little Rock closes out its 2017-18 home schedule at the Jack Stephens Center Saturday, hosting Appalachian State. The game against the Mountaineers will tip at approximately 5:15 p.m. following the conclusion of the women's game. Live video will be available through
Little Rock All-Access with live stats at
TrojanStats.com. Ray Tucker will have the call of the Trojans and Mountaineers on The Point 94.1 FM and online at
KKPT.com, getting underway at approximately 5 p.m.
HOME SWEET HOME
Since 2005, Little Rock has called the Jack Stephens Center home, and the venue has helped the Trojans become one of the Sun Belt's toughest home teams. Little Rock has posted a 125-68 record (.648) at the Jack since the doors opened in 2005, including a 69-47 mark (.595) against Sun Belt Conference foes. The Trojans are 5-9 on their home court this season and have posted a winning home record every year at the Jack Stephens Center, winning 10 or more home games on five occasions.Â
SENIORS'Â LAST HURRAH
Prior to Saturday's game against Appalachian State, Little Rock will recognize its three seniors playing their final game at the Jack Stephens Center. A former manager,
Brandon Brady has been a member of the Trojans for the past two seasons, playing in 13 games, while
Wadly Mompremier and
Khari Harley each spent this season in Little Rock after transferring from Ohio.
PREVIEWING THE MOUNTAINEERS
2017-18: 12-17 overall, 7-9 Sun Belt Conference (10th), 3-11 on the road
Last Three Games: L at Arkansas State (82-79, OT); W vs. Troy (65-54); L vs. South Alabama (77-66)
Head Coach: Jim Fox (SUNY Geneseo, 1995). Fourth season at Appalachian State (42-77, .353)
APPALACHIAN STATE SCOUTING REPORT
Appalachian State enters Saturday's game at 12-17 overall and 7-9 in Sun Belt Conference play, sitting 10th in the team standings. The Mountaineers rank third in the Sun Belt in scoring offense at 76.3 points per game and are the league's top rebounding team, averaging 39.7 boards per game, but defensively are allowing 74.7 points per game, which ranks 11th. Appalachian State is also one of the Sun Belt's top three-point shooting teams, making a league-high 260 shots from beyond the arc and averaging 9.0 three-pointers per game. Individually Ronshad Shabazz is third in the Sun Belt in scoring at 19.2 points per game, hitting 35.3 percent of his three-point attempts, while Isaac Johnson ranks third in rebounding at 8.5 per game. Justin Forrest is also averaging in double figures with 13.3 points per game, followed by Griffin Kinney's 9.9 ppg average.
SERIES HISTORY
Little Rock and Appalachian State meet for the 10th time Saturday with the Trojans holding a 6-3 edge in the all-time series. The two teams first met in a home-and-home series in 2005 with each winning on their home court before squaring off as Sun Belt Conference foes beginning in the 2014-15 season. The Trojans are a perfect 4-0 against the Mountaineers in Little Rock, including a 3-0 record against Appalachian State at the Jack Stephens Center. Full series results on page three.
LAST TIME OUT
Ben Marcus had a career night for Little Rock, registering 17 points and 11 rebounds for his first career double-double, but the effort wasn't enough to will the Trojans to the victory, falling to Coastal Carolina 65-60 Thursday. After a sluggish start, Little Rock trimmed the deficit to two possessions in the second half, but timely offensive rebounds and free throw shooting for the Chanticleers kept the Trojans at bay.
TROJANS-MOUNTAINEERS, PART ONE
Little Rock couldn't hold on to a 13-point first half advantage and added another heartbreaking loss, this time a 72-67 overtime defeat at Appalachian State on January 25. The Trojans held a six-point advantage at halftime and led by as many as 11 in the second half, but a nearly six minute scoring drought allowed the Mountaineers to rally back and tie the game at the end of regulation as the Trojans were then outscored 13-8 in the overtime period.
DOUBLE-DOUBLE MARCUS
Junior
Ben Marcus posted his best game in a Little Rock uniform Thursday against Coastal Carolina, finishing with 17 points and 11 rebounds, both personal-bests. Marcus' 17 points came on 8-of-14 shooting from the floor as he registered the first double-double of the season for the Trojans, becoming the 10th different Trojan to lead the team in scoring this season. Marcus has been efficient from the floor, making 72 of his 101 shots (71.3%), while finishing in double figures six times this season.
YOUTH MOVEMENT
The four true freshmen on Little Rock's 2017-18 roster haven't had much time to settle into things as all four have been relied upon early and often. The quartet of
Cameron Corcoran,
Jaizec Lottie,
Damir Hadzic and
Kris Bankston have combined to play 1,848 minutes already this season, accounting for 32.6% of the Trojans' 5,675 minutes. The freshmen foursome enter the game Saturday averaging 19.6 points per game, which is 31.7% of Little Rock's offensive production. The freshmen have combined for 51 starts this season as Bankston, Corcoran and Lottie all started Thursday's game against Coastal Carolina - the first time all season three true freshmen have started the same game.
CONTROLLING THE PAINT
One area that has become Little Rock's strength in 2017-18 has been its play under the basket. The Trojans have outscored their opponents 811-692 in points in the paint through 29 games this season, averaging 29.0 points in the key per game and accounting for 45.3% % of their offensive production. Little Rock has held the advantage in 19 of its 29 games this season, including a 25+ point differential against Ouachita Baptist (48-20), Norfolk State (38-10) and Ozarks (46-10), and limiting Coastal Carolina to just six points in the paint Thursday.
BALANCING THE ROCK
If nothing else, Little Rock's offensive production defines the word "balanced" in 2017-18. Seven different Trojans are averaging between 7.3 and 6.3 points per game, led by
Anthony Black's 7.5 points per game average and
Ryan Pippins and
Camron Reedus both sitting at 7.3 ppg.
Cameron Corcoran ranks fourth on the team at 7.0 points per game, followed by
Jaizec Lottie (6.5 ppg),
Ben Marcus (6.5 ppg) and
Oliver Black (6.3 ppg).Â
PLAYING CATCH-UP
In the Trojans' six victories in 2017-18, Little Rock has held the lead for an average of 29:04 and has not trailed at any point in three of the six victories. On the flip side, in the games the Trojans have lost this season, Little Rock has held the lead for an average of 9:05 and has found itself trailing by double digits on 16 occasions. Falling behind has proven costly for the Trojans this season as Little Rock has won just three games this season in which it trailed at any point during the game.
SHOOTING 70
Like in golf, the score of 70 has become a benchmark for Little Rock this season, just on a different spectrum. The Trojans are 6-2 this season in games where they reach 70 points, including a 5-1 mark in games where Little Rock reaches 71 points. Â On the flip side, Little Rock is 0-20 in games in which the Trojans score 69 points or fewer.
CLOSING IT OUT IN THE BOOT
Little Rock will head south to close out the 2017-18 regular season, playing the final games of the season in Louisiana. The trip begins in Monroe on Thursday, March 1, facing ULM at 7 p.m., then continues down to the Bayou to take on regular season champion Louisiana in Lafayette on Saturday, March 3. The Trojans will get a good feel for the Pelican State as the season then shifts to New Orleans for the 2018 Sun Belt Conference Tournament, being held March 7-11.
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