LITTLE ROCK – A second half surge and five players in double figures helped pave the way for a sixth-straight victory for Little Rock, defeating Appalachian State 93-86 at the Jack Stephens Center. The Trojans led by as many as 17 in the second half to improve to 11-2 in Sun Belt play, matching the best start in Sun Belt play in league history with the 2015-16 team.
"This was a very good team win tonight and I'm very proud of my team," said head coach
Darrell Walker. "That was a very good Appalachian State team that shot the lights out, but we kept our composure. This team is starting to find it touch at the right time."
Little Rock improves to 17-7 on the year and 11-2 in the Sun Belt, holding a two and a half game lead in the league standings following Troy's 84-78 win at Georgia State.
Game Notes
• Little Rock shot 60.7% from the floor on the afternoon, its best shooting effort of the season. The Trojans connected on 13-of-25 from three-point range (52.0%), also setting a season-high in three point percentage, while hitting 85.7% from the free throw line.
• Five different Trojans finished in double figures, led by a career-high 23 points from
Ben Coupet Jr. Coupet was 9-of-13 from the floor and 3-of-5 from three point range, dishing out a pair of assists.
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Markquis Nowell notched his first career double-double, scoring 17 points and dishing out 13 assists while going 6-of-12 from the floor and 5-of-8 from three-point range. The 13 assists is the most in a game by a Trojan since Zack Graber against Florida International on January 30, 2005, and a new Jack Stephens Center record for a single player.
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Ruot Monyyong had another solid outing for the Trojans, finishing with 12 points and six rebounds with three steals and three blocks. He upped his season block total to 52, moving into a tie with Muntrelle Dobbins in 1996-97 for fourth all-time.
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Marko Lukic and
Kamani Johnson each added 12 points for Little Rock with Johnson adding six rebounds and six assists while Lukic was 6-for-6 from the free throw line.
• Little Rock set a season-high with 26 assists against the Mountaineers, two off the Jack Stephens Center record.
• The Trojans upped their record in the all-time series with Appalachian State to 8-6, sweeping the season series against the Mountaineers. Little Rock improves to 10-2 at the Jack Stephens Center, marking the sixth time the Trojans have reached 10 home victories in a season since the facility was built.
First Half Notes
• After playing just five minutes Thursday, Coupet was the Trojan spark plug early, accounting for 10 of Little Rock's first 12 points. He also helped cause a steal which led to a dunk from Stulic in transition.
• A 10-4 run for Appalachian State over a two-minute span gave the Mountaineers a 22-18 lead, but Little Rock responded with three-pointers on three-straight possessions, including two from Stulic and one from Maric, to reclaim the lead at 27-26 at the 9:32 mark.
• The hot shooting for Appalachian State continued as the Mountaineers made seven-straight field goals, matched by 5-of-7 from Little Rock. The Trojan defense kept Appalachian State without a field goal for over three minutes, using an 8-1 run to up its lead to 37-31 with 5:36 remaining off a three from Lukic.
• Little Rock and Appalachian State combined for eight ties and 11 lead changes in the first half with Little Rock building a 44-40 lead at halftime. The Trojans shot 57.1% from the floor but the Mountaineers were a blistering 75.0%, including 5-of-9 from three.
• Nowell posted eight assists in the first half with his six points. Coupet's 12 led the Trojans followed by eight from Stulic as Little Rock was 7-of-13 from three-point range.
Second Half Notes
• It was a fast start for the Trojans, scoring the first seven points and nine of the first 11, breaking open a 53-42 lead at the 17:57 mark. A three from Nowell, back-to-back baskets from Johnson and a lay-up from Monyyong led the charge as Nowell surpassed 10 assists to set a new career high.
• Little Rock's run reached 15-4 at the 15:49 mark of the second half, upping the Trojan lead to 15 at 59-44. Five different Trojans scored during the run, led by six points from Johnson.
• After the Mountaineers cut the deficit to eight at 64-56, Little Rock put together a 12-3 run, extending its lead to 17 at 76-59 at the midway point of the second half. Little Rock then knocked down threes on back-to-back possessions, keeping the Mountaineers hot shooting at bay.
• Appalachian State used one last run, getting the score down to 12 on a handful of occasions. But a 7-2 run for Little Rock, coupled with Appalachian State's leading scorer Justin Forrest fouling out of the game, gave the Trojans the 91-74 lead with 3:38 remaining.
• A handful of late baskets by Appalachian State narrowed the final deficit off a 12-2 run, but the outcome was never in doubt late. Little Rock shot 64.3% in the second half, including 50%, contrasted by 70.8% from the floor for the Mountaineers in the second half.
Up Next
• The first of the two rivalry showdowns are on tap next week as Little Rock welcomes rival Arkansas State for its yearly trip to the Jack Stephens Center. Opening tip against the Red Wolves is set for 2 p.m.
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