LITTLE ROCK - Little Rock's final non-conference tune-up takes place Tuesday, December 10 when the Trojans welcome Tennessee State to the Jack Stephens Center for the first time. Opening tip against the Tigers is set for 6:30 p.m. and will stream live on ESPN+ with Ben Creighton and former Little Rock head coach Steve Shields on the call.
"It was a disappointing game Saturday in North Texas, but one of the best ways to get over that is to get back out and play," said head coach
Darrell Walker. "This is our final non-conference game facing a good Tennessee State team that is quick and athletic. This will be a good test against a good Ohio Valley (Conference) team to get us ready for Sun Belt play."
GAME STORYLINES
• Tuesday's game marks the third all-time meeting between Little Rock and Tennessee State. The Tigers won a 62-60 neutral site game in Springfield, Missouri on December 5, 1992, while the Trojans defeated the Tigers 83-67 at the Gentry Center in Nashville last November.
• Following Tuesday's game against the Tigers, Little Rock won't return to action at the Jack Stephens Center until January 2, 2020 - a span of 23 days. The Trojans will open Sun Belt Conference play before Christmas, opening at ULM and Louisiana December 19 and 21.
• Tuesday's game is Little Rock's third meeting with a team from the state of Tennessee this season. The Trojans are looking for their first win against a foe from the Volunteer state after falling at Memphis 68-58 and against East Tennessee State 67-63.
• Little Rock is coming off a struggle at North Texas Saturday night where the Trojans set a season-low for points scored (53) and field goal percentage (37.0%) while allowing its most points to an opposition this season (76) as well as its largest margin of defeat (23 points).
• The Trojan trio of
Markquis Nowell,
Ben Coupet Jr. and
Ruot Monyyong have been mainstays on the court for Little Rock this season as all three rank in the top-100 nationally for minutes per game, averaging 37:56, 35:15 and 34:20, respectively.
•
Ruot Monyyong will face his hometown team Tuesday night as the Nashville native played his high school ball at Whites Creek High School, located about nine miles north of Tennessee State's Gentry Center.
NEWS AND NOTES
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
2019-20: 6-3 overall, 0-0 Ohio Valley Conference
Last Three Games: W vs. Chicago State (80-74), W vs. North Florida (81-73), W vs. Cal Poly (82-72)
Head Coach: Brian "Penny" Collins (Belmont, 2006). Second season at Tennessee State and overall (15-24)
Key Players:
• #4 Wesley Harris (Gr., G): 11.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 49.3 FG%
• #2 Carlos Marshall (So., G): 11.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 42.5 FG%
• #1 Michael Littlejohn (Sr., G): 10.7 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 42.1 3FG%
• #22 Jy'lan Washington (Sr., F): 10.4 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 13 blk
• #10 Shakem Johnson (Jr., F): 7.8 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 69.6 FG%
SERIES HISTORY
Little Rock and Tennessee State meet for the third time in program history with the programs splitting the first two meetings. The Tigers defeated the Trojans 62-60 in a neutral site game at Springfield, Missouri, in 1992 with Little Rock earning the 83-67 win at the Gentry Center in Nashville last November.
DOING IT ALL
Markquis Nowell has been the face of the Trojan program early in the season, leading the team in scoring (19.3), free throw percentage (87.5%), assists (4.6), steals (3.0) and minutes (38.0) while ranking second in three point percentage (34.8%) and fourth in both field goal percentage (46.0%) and rebounds (4.2). The two-time Sun Belt Player of the Week ranks among the top two in five statistical categories for the league.
ATOP THE SUN BELT
A handful of Trojans rank among the Sun Belt leaders in a number of statistical categories through the first 10 games.
IRON TROJANS
Through the first 10 games of the 2019-20 season, three Trojans are averaging more than 34 minutes per game. Markquis Nowell (37:56), Ben Coupet Jr. (35:15) and Ruot Monyyong (34:20) have been constants on the floor for Little Rock this season, ranking seventh, 56th and 93rd nationally, respectively, in minutes per game this season.Â
CONSISTENT COUPET
Ben Coupet Jr. has scored in double figures in eight of his first 10 games as a Trojan, including a career-high 21 at NC State November 23. He finished with 18 points at North Texas Saturday, including scoring 16 in the second half, while going 8-for-9 from the free throw line and adding six rebounds. Coupet ranks second on the team in scoring (12.7) and is third in rebounds (6.3).
CRASHING THE BOARDS
The duo of Ruot Monyyong and Kamani Johnson have helped Little Rock establish a presence on the boards early in 2019-20. Monyyong (8.5 rpg) and Johnson (7.3 rpg) rank second and fifth, respectively, in the Sun Belt in rebounding average with Johnson leading all players in offensive rebounds per game (3.1) and Monyyong the league's defensive rebounds per game leader (6.3). As a team, Little Rock leads the Sun Belt in rebounding defense (31.4 rpg) and is second in rebounding margin (+5.7).
(DON'T) TAKE IT OUTSIDE
Three point shooting has been a struggle for Little Rock in 2019-20 as the Trojans are making just 29.5% of its shots from beyond the arc (49-of-166), ranked 292nd nationally. Little Rock is 332nd in three point field goals per game (4.9) and is allowing the opposition to shoot 35.6% from three, a stat not aided by Saturday's game at North Texas in which the Mean Green shot 54.3% from beyond the arc, making 19 three-point attempts.Â
HOME SWEET HOME
The 2019-20 season marks Little Rock's 15th at the Jack Stephens Center since the facility opened in 2005, as the Trojans have posted an overall record of 134-79 (.629) at the Jack. Little Rock is 3-1 at home this year, its best start at the Jack since the 15-0 2015-16 season, and has posted a winning record in the facility in 12 of its 14 seasons in its on-campus home.
CLOSING IN ON 500
With his 10 points against North Texas 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 (35) and minutes (1,141), 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 378-316 for a +62 point differential. The first half has been a challenge for the Trojans who have a -53 point differential, being outscored 331-278 in the opening 20 minutes of games, including being outscored by 20 Saturday night in Denton.
OFFICIAL IN THE BAYOU
Little Rock's final tip time of the season has been solidified as the Trojans will tip at 7 p.m. against Louisiana at the Cajundome in Lafayette on Saturday, Dec. 21. Louisiana was awaiting word on a football bowl game destination before making the call.
#LittleRocksTeam
