OPENING TIP
Little Rock returns to the Jack Stephens Center to begin a three game home stand, beginning with Coastal Carolina on Thursday, January 24 at 6:30 p.m. The game will stream live on ESPN+ with Ben Creighton and U.S. Reed calling the action. 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 Coastal Carolina meet for the fifth time Thursday with the Chanticleers winning each of the previous four meetings, including last season's 65-60 win at the Jack on February 22.
• The Trojans begin a key three game home stand as they look to make a jump up the Sun Belt standings. Little Rock is 6-3 at home, allowing 68.4 ppg, but is 1-9 on the road in 2018-19, giving up 85.5 ppg away from the Jack.
• Markquis Nowell scored 21 against UT Arlington, marking the 16th time this season a Trojan has scored 20 or more points in a game. Rayjon Tucker has the most with seven.
• Kamani Johnson scored 11 points at UT Arlington Saturday to up his season point total to 101. He is now the eighth different Trojan to eclipse the 100-point plateau, led by Rayjon Tucker's 355.
• Little Rock ranks fifth in the Sun Belt Conference at 77.2 points per game, which currently ranks as the fourth-highest scoring average since the Trojans made the jump to Division I. It would be the highest since averaging 81.0 ppg in 1989-90.
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 238-226 (.513) record in conference play, winning the 2016 Sun Belt regular season title to complement Little Rock's five divisional championships. Little Rock and Coastal Carolina have a brief history as conference rivals with the Chanticleers winning all four meeting since joining the Sun Belt prior to the 2016-17 season.
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 130-72 overall record (.644) at the Jack and is 71-45 (.612) in Sun Belt play, posting a winning record in 12 of the 13 seasons the Jack has served as the Trojans' home court. The Trojans are 6-3 at home this year, winning their last three games at the Jack.
KNOCKING THEM DOWN
Through the first 19 games of the season, the Trojans are shooting 49.5% from the floor, ranking second in the Sun Belt and 16th nationally. Little Rock has shot better than 50% from the floor in 10 of its first 19 contests, exceeded the 60% plateau three times this season. Little Rock especially enjoys playing at home as the Trojans have posted a 51.6% field goal percentage in its nine home games this season.
IRON MAN
Redshirt junior Rayjon Tucker has been a mainstay on the court for Little Rock in 2018-19, averaging 35:51 of playing time to rank first in the Sun Belt and 46th nationally in minutes played. Tucker has played 35 or more minutes in 12 of his 18 games, playing all 40 minutes on a pair of occasions. Tucker is making his mark on both the Sun Belt Conference and the national level, ranking fifth in the league in scoring at 19.7 ppg (46th nationally), seventh in field goal percentage at 51.2% and fourth in defensive rebounds at 5.9 rpg. He has been a frequent visitor to the free throw line, ranking 31st nationally in free throw attempts (129) and 30th in free throws made (98).
DOUBLE FIGURE CLUB
Little Rock's offense has been efficient this season as the Trojans are averaging 77.2 points per game, ranking fifth in the Sun Belt. That effort has been paced by Rayjon Tucker, who is averaging 19.7 points per game and has scored in double figures in 17 of his 18 games this season. Tucker is joined in the club by Nikola Maric (11) and Markquis Nowell (10) as the other two Trojans to achieve the feat 10 times this season with Little Rock's roster combining for 66 games of 10 points or more in 2018-19.
BACKCOURT DUO
The backcourt duo of Markquis Nowell and Jaizec Lottie have been productive for Little Rock as the two rank neck-and-neck among Sun Belt Conference leaders. Nowell currently ranks fourth in the league in assists per game (4.6), just ahead of Lottie in fifth (3.9). The duo is also tied for fifth in steals per game (1.6) with a combined 49 on the season.
BIG MAN BANKSTON
Sophomore Kris Bankston continues to put together a solid sophomore year for Little Rock, making his presence felt inside. Bankston has registered 44 dunks on the year, which has propelled him to an 83.5% field goal percentage on the year (66-of-79), a mark which would lead the NCAA had he met the minimum of 5.0 made FGs per game. Bankston also ranks fourth in the Sun Belt in blocks per game (1.1) and is third on the team with 87 rebounds.
SCORING CLIP
Little Rock's offense has been noticeably more productive in 2018-19 as the Trojans are averaging 77.2 points per game, up nearly 14 points from last season's 63.7 ppg average. The 77.2 points per game currently ranks as the fourth-highest season scoring average since Little Rock made the move to Division I and would be the highest since the Trojans averaged 81.0 points per game in 1989-90.
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 73 dunks through the first 19 games of the 2018-19 season, averaging 3.8 per game. Kris Bankston has become the poster boy for slams for Little Rock with 44 of his 66 field goals coming off dunks. Little Rock has doubled-up its opponents thus far in 2018-19, out-dunking the competition 73-36.Â
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 six of the Trojans' last seven games. The freshmen have combined to play 1,493 of Little Rock's 3,850 minutes this season (38.8%), providing 548 of the Trojans' 1,466 points (37.4%). The group has accounted for 231 rebounds (35.4%) while combining for 54 of Little Rock's 95 starts in 2018-19 (56.8%).
LAST TIME OUT
Little Rock found itself in an early hole and never recovered, falling at UT Arlington 82-73 Saturday afternoon. The Trojans never led against the Mavericks, trailing by 11 at halftime and were only able to pull to within seven in the second half. Markquis Nowell led the way with 21 as the Trojans committed just 11 turnovers, but Little Rock sent UT Arlington to the free throw line 39 times to help seal the Maverick victory.
SCOUTING THE CHANTICLEERS
2018-19: 8-9 overall, 2-3 Sun Belt (T-7th), 2-6 on the road
Last Three Games: W vs. Appalachian State (89-72); L vs. UT Arlington (61-58); L vs. Texas State (65-61)
Series: Coastal Carolina leads 4-0 (.000) | Streak: Coastal won 4 |Â First: Jan. 9, 2017 (L, 66-63) | Last: Feb. 22, 2018 (L, 65-60)Â
Head Coach: Cliff Ellis (Florida State, 1968). 12th season at Coastal Carolina (221-166); 44th season overall (833-505)
Key Players:
• #40 Zac Cuthbertson (Sr., F): 19.2 ppg., 8.5 rpg., 51.4 FG%
• #11 Amidou Bamba (Jr., F): 7.9 ppg., 5.6 rpg., 51.8 FG%
• #10 Tyrell Gumbs-Frater (Jr., G): 7.9 ppg., 1.6 rpg., 43.8 FG%
• #4 Ajay Sanders (Sr., G): 7.1 ppg., 4.8 rpg., 41.2 FG%
• #13 David Kralj (Fr., G): 7.5 ppg., 1.7 rpg., 44.0 FG%
LAST TIME vs. THE CHANTICLEERS
A sluggish start proved costly for Little Rock as the Trojans fell behind by 11 in the first half to Coastal Carolina and couldn't recover, dropping a 65-60 decision to the Chanticleers on Feb. 22, 2018 at the Jack Stephens Center. Little Rock was able to pull to within two possessions in the second half, but timely baskets by Coastal Carolina kept Little Rock at bay to remain unbeaten against the Trojans.
#LittleRocksTeam
