LITTLE ROCK - After a week-long break, Little Rock returns to action Saturday, traveling to Denton, Texas to take on former Sun Belt Conference rival North Texas. Opening tip against the Mean Green is set for 5 p.m. from the Super Pit with the game streaming on CUSA-TV.
"It was good to have a bit of a break, get some guys healthy and work on some things," said head coach
Darrell Walker. "November was a busy month for us and I thought our team progressed well. We're excited to get back at it against a tough North Texas team and get ready for another challenging road trip."
GAME STORYLINES
• Little Rock and North Texas meet for the first time since the Mean Green left the Sun Belt Conference following the 2012-13 season. The Trojans are 18-9 all-time against the Mean Green and are 7-4 against North Texas at the Super Pit in Denton.
• Little Rock heads west for the first time in 2019-20, seeking its first victory west of Little Rock since a 72-67 win over Northern Arizona on December 14, 2016.
• The Trojans are looking for their first victory in the state of Texas since capturing the Lone Star Showcase in Cedar Park on November 21-23. Little Rock is 0-5 in games in the Lone Star state since capturing the tournament title in 2016.
•
Markquis Nowell was named the Sun Belt Conference's Player of the Week for the second time in three weeks. He becomes the first Trojan to two conference weekly accolades in the same season since
Josh Hagins did so December 1 and 15, 2015.
• After a busy November which saw the Trojans play nine games in 25 days, Saturday's game begins a slow December in which Little Rock will take to the court just four times in 32 days. The game at North Texas also marks Little Rock's final non-conference road game.
• Little Rock's streak of a player with a double-double came to an end against East Tennessee State, snapping a span of five-straight games.
Ruot Monyyong posted three double-doubles during the run with
Kamani Johnson adding a pair of his own as the duo both rank in the top-five of rebounding in the Sun Belt.
NEWS AND NOTES
SCOUTING THE MEAN GREEN
2019-20: 3-6 overall, 0-0 Conference USA
Last Three Games: L vs. Oklahoma (82-80); W at UT Arlington (77-66); L vs. Utah State (68-59)
Head Coach: Grant McCasland (Baylor, 1999). Third season at UNT (44-36); Fourth season overall (64-48)
Key Players:
• #1 Umoja Gibson (So., G): 15.0 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 84.2 FT%
• #3 Javion Hamlet (Jr., G): 9.4 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 85.2 FT%
• #23 Deng Geu (Gr., F): 9.0 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 54.1 FG%
• #24 Zachary Simmons (Jr., F): 7.3 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 56.9 FG%
• #0 James Reese (Jr., G): 6.0 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 100.0 FT%
SERIES HISTORY
Little Rock and North Texas were Sun Belt rivals from 2001-13 as the Trojans hold an 18-9 record in the all-time series, including winning four of the last five meetings between the two. Saturday marks Little Rock's 12th visit to the Super Pit in Denton where they have compiled a 7-4 all-time record on the Mean Green's home court.
HE DID IT AGAIN
For the second time in three weeks, Markquis Nowell has been named the Sun Belt Conference's Player of the Week. Nowell averaged 24.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.3 steals in helping lead the Trojans to a 2-1 record over Thanksgiving week. Nowell becomes the first Little Rock player to earn a pair of Sun Belt weekly honors since Josh Hagins in December 2015.
ATOP THE SUN BELT
A handful of Trojans rank among the Sun Belt leaders in a number of statistical categories through the first nine games.Â
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IRON MAN MARKQUIS
One constant through the first nine games of Little Rock's 2019-20 season has been Markquis Nowell on the court for the Trojans. Nowell has played 352 of Little Rock's 360 minutes this season, ranking second nationally in minutes per game at 39:05. He has played all 40 minutes in six of the first nine games, logging 38 or more minutes in all but one game.Â
CONSISTENT COUPET
Ben Coupet Jr. has scored in double figures in seven of his first nine games as a Trojan, including a career-high 21 at NC State on 9-of-14 shooting. He finished with 15 points and six rebounds against East Tennessee State Sunday and currently ranks second on the team in points (12.1) and is third in rebounds (6.3).
BREAK IT OUT JOVAN
Jovan Stulic has started to break out in the last two games as the freshman is averaging 10.0 points and 5.0 rebounds. Stulic has started the last seven games for the Trojans as a true freshman and registered career highs in the win over Alcorn State, finishing with 11 points and six rebounds against the Braves.
LOCK DOWN DEFENSE
One of the key reasons for Little Rock's success in the early part of the 2019-20 season has been its defense. The Trojans have held each of their first nine opponents under their season scoring average, holding four opponents to 19 or more points below what they typically score.
TROJAN DUNK TRACKER
Through eight games in 2019-20, Little Rock continues to make a name for itself above the rim. The Trojans have out-dunked their opponents 28-20 on the season, led by 17 from Ruot Monyyong and six from Kris Bankston. Only Memphis (8-3) and NC State (7-4) have out-dunked the Trojans in a game this season as the other seven opponents have combined for just five slams.
CLOSING IN ON 500
With his 20 points against East Tennessee State on Saturday, Markquis Nowell continues to inch closer to reaching 500 career points in a Trojan uniform. He leads the current roster in career points and is third in both games (34) and minutes (1,113), trailing both Jaizec Lottie and Kris Bankston.
SECOND HALF SURGE
Little Rock has played its best basketball in the second half of games this season, outscoring the opposition 350-285 for a +65 point differential. The first half has been a challenge for the Trojans who have a -33 point differential, being outscored 286-253 in the opening 20 minutes of games.
TROJANS AGAINST C-USA
Little Rock has an extensive history against Conference USA as the Trojans are 95-112 (.459) against current members of the league. The 18 wins against North Texas are the most for the Trojans against a member of C-USA, followed by 17 victories over Florida International and 13 wins each against Louisiana Tech, Middle Tennessee and Western Kentucky. Current league members Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Middle Tennessee, North Texas and Western Kentucky were once Sun Belt rivals for Little Rock.
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