MOBILE, Ala. – Little Rock raced out to an 11-point lead midway through the second half, then held off a handful of rallies from South Alabama to prevail with a 73-71 victory over the Jaguars at the Mitchell Center. The win is the fourth-straight for Little Rock, upping its overall record to 15-7, as the Trojans maintain their grasp on first place in the Sun Belt Conference, sitting at 9-2 in league play.
The victory for Little Rock avenges a 52-43 loss to the Jaguars two weeks ago in the Jack Stephens Center and gives the Trojans seven road wins thus far in 2019-20, its most since the 12-win road campaign in 2015-16.
The nine Sun Belt wins for Little Rock matches its total from the past two seasons combined as the Trojans' 9-2 mark through 11 games remains one game off the pace of the 2015-16 team's 10-1 record through the same number of games.
Game Notes
• Four Trojans scored in double figures on the night as Little Rock shot 47.2% from the floor (25-of-53). Little Rock attempted a season-high 28 three-pointers, making 12 to tie its season-best. Little Rock knocked down 11 of 14 free throw attempts, all of which came in the second half to help secure the win.
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Markquis Nowell led all players with 22 points on 7-of-17 shooting and 5-of-12 from three point range, knocking down all three of his free throw attempts. It was Nowell's 10th game this season of scoring 20 or more as Little Rock is now 8-2 in those games.
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Ruot Monyyong notched his 12th double-double of the season, finishing with 11 points and 10 rebounds with four blocks against the Jaguars. Monyyong was 4-for-5 from the floor and 3-for-4 from the line as he matches Rashad Jones-Jennings for the most double-doubles in a single season in program history.
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Ben Coupet Jr. came on strong in the second half, scoring 13 of his 15 points, including a key stretch where he scored seven-straight for the Trojans. Coupet finished 5-of-12 from the floor and 2-of-7 from three, converting on all three of his free throw attempts in the second half.
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Jovan Stulic finished with 14 points, hitting four three pointers, all of which seemed to come at key moments in the game. The 14 points was four off his career-high as he shot 5-of-8 from the floor, including 4-of-7 from three.
• Little Rock once again held a rebounding edge, besting South Alabama 29-24, including an 8-3 edge on the offensive glass. The Jaguars finished the game shooting 50% from the floor, including going 68.2% in the second half.
First Half Notes
• A contrast to the last three games for Little Rock as the Trojans came out cold on the offensive end. The Trojans missed their first four shots and committed three turnovers in the first three and a half minutes, building an early 7-0 hole.
• After the tough start, Little Rock found its scoring groove and rattled off 10-straight to take the lead at 10-7. Back-to-back threes from Stulic and Lukic, aided by four Jaguar turnovers, helped the Trojans flip the scoreboard.
• The 10-0 run for Little Rock was then met with another extended scoring drought as the Trojans went nearly five minutes without any points. South Alabama struggled to find any scoring as well as the two teams were tied 12-12 at the 7:44 mark. The two teams combined to go 3-for-17 during that span.
• Another extended run for Little Rock helped the Trojans get back in front at 21-17, outscoring South Alabama 9-2 during a 3:30 span. Four different Trojans scored during the run, beginning with a three from Nowell and followed by layups from Johnson and Coupet sandwiching a dunk from Monyyong.
• South Alabama was efficient from the free throw line, making 7-of-8 attempts, while the Trojans did not attempt a free throw in the opening 20 minutes. Trailing 26-25 with time winding down, Nowell hit a long three to give the Trojans the 28-26 lead at halftime.
• Little Rock shot 42.9% from the floor in the opening 20 minutes, but were just 4-for-15 from three-point range. The Trojan defense limited South Alabama to just 33.3% shooting in the first half, including 3-of-8 from beyond the arc.
• Nowell led the Trojans with 10 points at the break, playing all 20 minutes in the first half. Monyyong added six points and seven rebounds, going 3-for-3 from the floor. Johnson contributed four points and five rebounds as well.
Second Half Notes
• The two teams exchanged baskets in the early part of the second half before back-to-back threes from South Alabama gave the Jaguars the 36-34 lead at the 16:52 mark. Little Rock answered with three-straight from Monyyong, sparked by his fourth block of the night, reclaiming the advantage at 37-36.
• South Alabama went nearly five minutes without a basket as the Trojans used back-to-back threes from Nowell and Stulic, upping its lead to six at 43-37 with 12:43 remaining. That sparked an extended run for the Trojans, who outscored South Alabama 14-3 over a 4:13 span to up its lead to nine at 48-39 with 10:39 remaining.
• Nowell converted an and-one a long three point attempt at the 9:50 mark, upping the Little Rock lead to 11 at 52-41. It was Nowell's 20th point of the game, marking the 10th time this season he has reached the 20-point mark.
• A response came quickly from South Alabama as the Jaguars rattled off seven points in 1:34, getting to within four at 52-48. The Jaguars continued to chip away, getting to within three at 54-51 and again at 56-53, neutralizing four-straight points from Coupet.
• Coupet scored seven-straight for the Trojans over a 2:42 span, helping keep the Trojans in front. A pair of free throws from Maric and a three from Stulic pushed the Little Rock lead back to nine at 64-55 with 3:30 remaining.
• South Alabama continued to threaten down the stretch, hitting seven of its final nine field goals, including a pair of threes over the final 1:36. But a big three from Coupet with 19 seconds remaining put the Trojans up 71-66, then Nowell closed out the game with a pair of clutch free throws to help seal the win.
• Little Rock shot 52% in the second half and held off a furious South Alabama shooting attack as the Jaguars hit 68.2% of their shots over the final 20 minutes. The Trojans connected on 8-of-13 three point attempts and were 11-of-14 from the free throw line.
Up Next
• Little Rock now returns home for a big three game home stand, beginning with the Carolina foes. The Trojans host Coastal Carolina Thursday, January 30, with the opening tip against the Chanticleers set for 6:30 p.m.
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