OPENING TIP
Little Rock looks to build on its two-game Sun Belt winning streak, heading to Texas for a pair of games this weekend. The trip begins in San Marcos when the Trojans take on Texas State on Thursday, January 18, tipping at 7 p.m. from Strahan Coliseum. The game will stream live on ESPN+ with live stats available at TrojanStats.com. Ray Tucker will once again carry the radio call live on The Point 94.1 FM and online at KKPT.com.
STARTING FIVE
• Little Rock and Texas State meet for the 13th time in the series history Thursday with the Trojans holding an 8-4 edge, although the Bobcats have won the last two meetings.
• Little Rock will play in its seventh different state/territory this week and will be seeking its first win in Texas since capturing the Lone Star Showcase in Cedar Hill in November of 2016.
• Rayjon Tucker's streak of consecutive double digit games ended at 15 against South Alabama. Tucker ranks third in the Sun Belt in scoring at 20.1 points per game and is the league's leader in time on the court, averaging over 36 minutes per game.
• Little Rock's bench has been key in the last two victories for the Trojans, outscoring the opposition 77-13, led by 34 points for Deondre Burns and 26 points for Jaizec Lottie.
• The Trojans still remain one of the top shooting teams in the nation as the Trojans' 49.9% field goal percentage ranks first in the Sun Belt Conference and 14th nationally. Little Rock has shot 60% or better from the floor on three occasions this season.
BACK IN THE BELT
The 2018-19 season marks Little Rock's 28th year as a member of the Sun Belt Conference, joining the league in the 1991-92 season. During that stretch, the Trojans have posted a 238-224 (.515) record in conference play, winning the 2016 Sun Belt regular season title to complement Little Rock's five divisional championships. Texas State and Little Rock have competed yearly since the Bobcats joined the league in 2013-14.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Little Rock heads back on the road this weekend, getting set to play a game in its seventh different state/territory in 2018-19. The Trojans will head to Texas for the first time since taking on Sam Houston State in Huntsville on Dec. 15, 2017, and will seek their first win in the Lone Star state since winning the Lone Star Showcase in Cedar Hill on November 23, 2016. The trip to San Marcos and Arlington will bring Little Rock's miles traveled on the year to just over 8,500.
KNOCKING THEM DOWN
Through the first 17 games of the season, the Trojans are shooting 49.9% from the floor, ranking first in the Sun Belt and 14th nationally. Little Rock has shot better than 50% from the floor in 10 of its first 17 contests, coming off a 61.2% performance (30-of-49) in the win over South Alabama. The Trojans have exceeded the 60% plateau three times this season, highlighted by its season-high 63.8% (30-of-47) against Central Arkansas on December 8.
IRON MAN
Redshirt junior Rayjon Tucker has been a mainstay on the court for Little Rock in 2018-19, averaging 36:17 of playing time to rank first in the Sun Belt and 30th nationally in minutes played. Tucker has played 35 or more minutes in 12 of his 16 games, playing all 40 minutes against Troy Thursday night. Tucker ranks third in the Sun Belt Conference in scoring at 20.1 points per game (sitting 36th nationally) and ranks among the NCAA leaders in free throw attempts (29th - 118), free throws made (32nd - 88), total points (58th - 322) and defensive rebounds (59th - 6.31 rpg).
ALL GOOD THINGS MUST END
Despite defeating South Alabama by 29 points Saturday, the game saw Rayjon Tucker's streak of double figure point totals come to an end. Tucker scored just six points in the victory, ending his 15-game streak of scoring at least 10+ points for the Trojans. That effort was the fourth-longest in program history since the 2000-01 season, finishing five games shy of matching the high water mark of 20 games, set by Solomon Bozeman (2010-11) and Stan Blackmon (2000-01).
SO HOT, IT BURNS
Redshirt junior Deondre Burns was a key factor off the bench in Little Rock's victory over South Alabama Saturday, finishing with a game-high 22 points on 7-of-9 shooting, including 3-of-4 from three point range, and hitting all five of his free throws. Burns also added seven rebounds and five assists, both career-highs, averaging 17 points and 5.5 rebounds in the two victories over the weekend.
WELCOME BACK, LOTTIE
Sophomore Jaizec Lottie returned to the lineup last week after missing time with a hand injury and made his presence felt. Lottie tied his career-high with 17 points in the win over South Alabama, going 7-for-10 from the floor with three steals. Lottie averaged 13 points over the two-game series for the Trojans and continues to rank fifth in the Sun Belt Conference in both assists (4.3 apg) and steals (1.7 spg).
KAMANI COMES UP CLUTCH
Freshman Kamani Johnson once again showed his abilities, setting a career-high for the second-straight game. Johnson finished with 12 points on 6-of-9 shooting, besting his previous high of 11 points he set Thursday against Troy. The Brooklyn, New York native added seven rebounds and a pair of assists and ranks second on the team in field goal percentage (58.7%).
NOWELL SIZING UP
The smallest player on the roster, freshman Markquis Nowell has come up big in his freshman debut. Nowell finished with eight points and six assists in the win over South Alabama as he continues to rank second on the team in scoring (12.0 ppg). The Harlem, New York native is Little Rock's top free throw shooter at 82.1%, ranking fourth in the Sun Belt in assists (4.5 apg) and seventh in steals (1.6 spg).
BALANCED SCORING
Four different Trojans finished in double figures in the win over South Alabama Saturday, marking the ninth time this season four or more players have registered at least 10 points in the same game. The high water mark for Little Rock came against Howard when five Trojans scored in double figures in the 97-76 victory. Seven players are averaging over eight points a game with Rayjon Tucker (20.1), Markquis Nowell (12.0) and Nikola Maric (11.1) averaging in double digits.
THROW IT DOWN, BIG MEN
Little Rock is earning a reputation as one of the nation's top dunking teams as the Trojans have recorded 70 dunks through the first 15 games of the 2018-19 season, averaging 4.1 per game. Kris Bankston has become the poster boy for slams for Little Rock with 43 of his 61 field goals coming off dunks. Little Rock has doubled-up its opponents thus far in 2018-19, out-dunking the competition 70-35.
FRESHMAN FOURSOME
Little Rock's freshman foursome have been called on early and often as the group of Markquis Nowell, Kamani Johnson, Horace Wyatt Jr. and Nikola Maric have started four of the Trojans' last five games. The freshmen have combined to play 1,327 of Little Rock's 3,450 minutes this season (38.5%), providing 488 of the Trojans' 1,331 points (36.7%). The group has accounted for 211 rebounds (35.1%) while combining for 46 of Little Rock's 85 starts in 2018-19 (54.1%).
LAST TIME OUT
Little Rock raced out to an early lead and never looked back, routing South Alabama 91-62 at the Jack Stephens Center Saturday. Four Trojans scored in double figures, led by 22 off the bench for Deondre Burns, as Little Rock shot 61.2% for the game. The effort was paced by the Trojan bench which outscored their Jaguar counterparts 47-7.
SCOUTING THE BOBCATS
2018-19: 14-3 overall, 3-1 Sun Belt (2nd), 6-1 home
Last Three Games: W at Appalachian State (70-69); W at Coastal Carolina (65-61); L vs. Georgia State (73-69)
Series: Little Rock leads, 8-4 (.667) | Streak: Texas State won 2 | First: Dec. 21, 1994 (L, 66-65) | Last: Jan. 13 2018 (L, 72-70)
Head Coach: Danny Kaspar (North Texas, 1978). Sixth season at Texas State (88-91); 28th season overall (553-284)
Key Players:
• #22 Nijal Pearson (Jr., G): 17.7 ppg., 4.9 rpg., 44.6 FG%
• #2 Tre Nottingham (Sr., G): 13.1 ppg., 3.1 rpg., 38.8 FG%
• #23 Alex Peacock (Sr., F): 8.6 ppg., 7.1 rpg., 42.2 FG%
• #45 Eric Terry (Jr., F): 8.4 ppg., 3.3 rpg., 67.8 FG%
• #35 Jaylen Shead (Jr., G): 7.0 ppg., 4.9 rpg., 4.9 apg., 47.0 FG%
LAST TIME vs. THE BOBCATS
A furious rally in the final 27 seconds saw Little Rock overcome a five point deficit, tying the game against Texas State at 70-70 with six seconds to play on January 13, 2018 at the Jack Stephens Center. But for the second time in a week, the Trojans dropped a heart breaker at the buzzer as the Bobcats buried a shot as time expired, escaping with the 72-70 win. Kris Bankston just missed a double-double against Texas State, finishing with 14 points and nine rebounds.
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