LITTLE ROCK - Little Rock's three game home stand concludes with the annual rivalry showdown with Arkansas State Saturday. The game against the Red Wolves tips at 2 p.m. with Ben Creighton and Steve Shields on the call on ESPN+.
"It's been a long week, and I know our guys are ready to get back on the court," said head coach
Darrell Walker. "This is a very good A State team that is coming in here on Saturday. They have some more size to them than they've had in the past and have a handful of guys that can knock down shots. Defense will once again be the name of the game. It should be a fun rivalry game and hopefully we get a really good crowd in (the Jack Stephens Center) Saturday."
GAME STORYLINES
• Little Rock and Arkansas State resume the Trojans' longest rivalry in program history, meeting for the 90th time Saturday. Arkansas State holds the all-time series lead at 55-34 and has won five of the last six, sweeping the season series in 2018-19. The Trojans are 21-14 against the Red Wolves in Little Rock and are 8-5 against their rivals at the Jack Stephens Center.
• Little Rock enters Saturday's game still in sole possession of first place in the Sun Belt Conference at 11-2, holding a three game lead over both Texas State and Georgia State.
• The 11-2 mark is tied with the 2008-09 and 2015-16 teams for the program's best Sun Belt record through 13 games.
• Little Rock's 11 Sun Belt wins has surpassed the program's combined nine conference wins in 2017-18 and 2018-19. The 17 total wins has equaled the combined win totals for both of those seasons as well.
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Ruot Monyyong ranks sixth nationally in double-doubles with 13, leading the Sun Belt Conference. He is the league's leader in both rebounds (10.2) and blocks (2.2) per game.
• Free throw shooting will be a key factor Saturday as Arkansas State leads the nation in both free throws attempted (528) and made (372). Little Rock is among the top-25 nationally in both categories as both teams shoot 70.5% from the line.
• Little Rock moved up to number 19 in the latest CollegeInsider.com Top-25 poll. The Trojans are ranked 139th in the latest NET rankings, second in the Sun Belt behind Georgia State at 118.
NEWS AND NOTES
SCOUTING THE RED WOLVES
2019-20: 15-9 overall, 7-6 Sun Belt (T-5th)
Last Three Games: L vs. Coastal Carolina (83-77), L vs. Appalachian State (71-64), W at Troy (78-62)
Head Coach: Mike Balado (St. Thomas, 1998). Third season at Arkansas State and overall (34-49)
Key Players:
• #23 Marquis Eaton (Jr., G): 11.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 78.2 FT%
• #0 Caleb Fields (Fr., G): 11.2 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 37.3 3FG%
• #11 Melo Eggleston (So., G): 10.1 ppg 5.9 rpg, 40.7 FG%
• #12 Canberk Kus (Sr., G): 9.9 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 44.9 FG%
• #4 J.J. Matthews (Jr., F): 8.9 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 54.8 FG%
LAST WE MET
Arkansas State pulled away in the second half after a gridlocked opening 25 minutes, handing Little Rock a 72-65 loss on Feb. 23, 2019 in Jonesboro. Little Rock shot 41.8% from the floor and 35.7% from three-point range, but a 39-30 rebounding edge helped the Red Wolves pull away late for the season sweep.Â
MARKQUIS FOR THREE
Markquis Nowell was named the Sun Belt Conference Co-Player of the Week after averaging a double-double in a pair of wins last week. Nowell averaged 15.5 points and 11.0 assists with 4.5 steals, becoming the first player in program history to earn Sun Belt weekly honors three times in the same season. He joins Will Neighbour (2011-14) and Rashad Jones-Jennings (2005-07) as the only Trojans to earn the weekly accolade three times in their Little Rock career.
MONYYONG MAKING A STATEMENT
Making a strong case for Sun Belt Newcomer and Defensive Player of the Year, Ruot Monyyong ranks in the top-30 nationally in five statistical categories. He ranks sixth nationally in double-doubles and is the Sun Belt leader with 13, six more than South Alabama's Josh Ajayi, the next closest player. Monyyong has posted double digit rebounding totals in 15 games while scoring in double figures 18 time, leading the league in both rebounds and blocks.
RECORD DAY AT THE JACK
Markquis Nowell's performance against Appalachian State Saturday was one for the record books as Nowell finished with 13 assists, setting a new arena record for assists in a game. The 13 helpers is his new career high and is the most assists for a Trojan since Zack Graber's 13 assist performance at Florida International on January 30, 2005. His 211 career assists is 31 shy of cracking the all-time program top-12, held by both Graber (2003-05) and Malik Dixon (1993-97).
CAREER HIGH FOR COUPET
Ben Coupet Jr. set a new career high Saturday against Appalachian State, finishing with 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting. He bested his previous high of 21 at NC State on Nov. 23, 2019, and has scored in double figures in 18 of the Trojans' 24 games this season, tied with Ruot Monyyong for the most on the roster.Â
RUOT BLOCK PARTY
With his three blocks in the win over Appalachian State, Ruot Monyyong upped his season block total to 52, which is tied for fourth in a single season in program history. Monyyong remains well within striking distance of passing Ryan Moss for third all-time, needing just four more blocks over the course of the 2019-20 season.
IRON MAN MARKQUIS
Markquis Nowell has logged 10 games of 40 minutes of playing time this season, none of which have been in overtime. He is one of just eight players nationally to accomplish the feat, ranking fifth behind Syracuse's Elijah Hughes with 15.Â
EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS
Little Rock is one of two teams nationally who lead their conference after being picked 11th in the respective preseason poll. The Trojans and Merrimack of the Northeast Conference were both picked to finish 11th but currently sit atop their league standings. Tulsa was picked to finish 10th in the American while Illinois (Big Ten), William & Mary (Colonial Athletic) and North Texas (Confernece USA) were each projected seventh in their respective conferences.
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