LITTLE ROCK - Little Rock begins a key three-game home stand at the Jack Stephens Center, beginning with Coastal Carolina Thursday. The game against the Chanticleers tips at 6:30 p.m. with Ben Creighton and Steve Shields on the call on ESPN+.
"This is big stretch for our team, getting to play three-straight at home," said head coach
Darrell Walker. "Coastal Carolina will be coming in here looking for a little bit of payback, and that is a team that can really shoot the ball and score. We did a good job against them the first time around, but will need another strong defensive effort against them Thursday night."
GAME STORYLINES
• Little Rock and Coastal Carolina meet for the sixth time with the Chanticleers holding a 5-1 lead in the all-time series. Little Rock notched its first-ever win in the series wit the 71-55 victory in Conway, South Carolina, on January 16.
• Little Rock enters Thursday's game in sole possession of first place in the Sun Belt Conference at 9-2, holding a game and a half lead over Georgia State. It is the program's best mark through 11 conference games since the 10-1 start in 2015-16.
• Little Rock's nine Sun Belt wins matches the program's combined total from 2017-18 (four) and 2018-19 (five). The Trojans are one of just two programs nationally that have reached nine wins in conference play, joining fourth-ranked San Diego State who is 10-0 in the Mountain West Conference.
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Ruot Monyyong ranks fifth nationally in double-double with 12, leading the Sun Belt Conference. He is currently tied with Rashad Jones-Jennings for the program single-season record, set in 2006-07.
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Markquis Nowell has scored 20 or more points in 10 games this season with the Trojans posting an 8-2 record in those games. He has also played all 40 minutes nine times this year, ranking third in the Sun Belt in minutes per game (34.5).
• Thursday's game will be a contrast in styles as Coastal Carolina ranks second in the Sun Belt in scoring offense (77.9 ppg) while Little Rock is second in scoring defense (66.0 ppg).
• Little Rock cracked the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top-25 poll on Monday, January 27, checking in at number 25.
NEWS AND NOTES
SCOUTING THE CHANTICLEERS
2019-20: 11-10 overall, 4-6Â Sun Belt (9th)
Last Three Games: L vs. Appalachian State (78-58); L vs. Arkansas State (80-75); L vs. Little Rock (71-55)
Head Coach: Cliff Ellis (Florida State, 1968). 13th season at Coastal Carolina (241-184); 45th season overall (853-523)
Key Players:
• #3 DeVante' Jones (So., G): 15.3 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 5.7 apg
• #4 Keishawn Brewton (Jr., G): 15.0 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 78.3 FT%
• #33 Tommy Burton (Sr., F): 11.5 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 49.5 FG%
• #10 Tyrell Gumbs-Frater (Sr., G): 11.2 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 75.9 FT%
• #2 Garrick Green (Jr., G): 8.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 44.1 FT%
LAST WE MET
Little Rock's defensive effort confounded Coastal Carolina all night as the Trojans never trailed, dominating the Chanticleers 71-55 at the HTC Center on January 16. Five Trojans finished in double figures, matching its largest offensive production of the season, as Coastal Carolina's 55 points was its lowest of the season, shooting 31.5% from the floor and 20% from three.
IMPRESSIVE COMPANY
With Little Rock's win at South Alabama Saturday, the Trojans won their ninth conference game of the 2019-20 season. Heading into this week's games, Little Rock was one of only two schools to reach at least nine conference wins through games of Monday, January 27, joining fourth-ranked San Diego State, who is 10-0 in the Mountain West. Eight other programs currently sit at eight conference victories.
MONYYONG MAKING A STATEMENT
Making a strong case for Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year, Monyyong ranks in the top-30 nationally in six statistical categories. He is fifth in double-doubles (12), sixth in defensive rebounds (8.18), 12th in total rebounds (226), 21st in rebounds per game (10.3), 26th in minutes (749:27) and 28th in total blocks (46). Monyyong has posted double digit rebounding totals in 14 games while scoring in double figures 16 times.
GOOD TO BE BACK
After missing essentially four games battling a hamstring, Markquis Nowell made up for lost time in the win over South Alabama, scoring 22 points with four assists while playing all 40 minutes. It was the 10th time this season Nowell has surpassed 20 points with the Trojans sitting at 8-2 in those games. It also marked the ninth time this season Nowell has played all 40 minutes in a game.
DOUBLE-DOUBLE MACHINE
Ruot Monyyong finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds in the win over South Alabama Saturday, upping his season total to 12 double-doubles, which ranks fifth nationally. With the effort, he moved into a tie with Rashad Jones-Jennings for the program's single season double-double record, set in the 2006-07 season.
600 CLUB
With his 22 points Saturday at South Alabama, Markquis Nowell surpassed the 600-point club for his career, sitting at 608. Nowell leads the active roster in career points and is second in minutes played, trailing Jaizec Lottie's 2,095.
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 18 of their first 22 opponents at or below their season scoring average, holding five opponents to 20 or more points below what they typically score.
CONSISTENT COUPET
Ben Coupet Jr. is thriving in his first season as a Trojan, ranking second on the team in scoring at 11.9 points per game. Coupet finished with 15 points in the win over South Alabama, including 13 in the second half, as he reached double figures for the 17th time this season, the most on the Little Rock roster.
RUOT BLOCK PARTY
With his four blocks in the win over South Alabama, Ruot Monyyong upped his season block total to 46, which is tied for fifth in program history with Muntrelle Dobbins in 1995-96. Monyyong remains well within striking distance of passing Ryan Moss for third all-time as Moss tallied 55 blocks in 1997-98.
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