LAFAYETTE, La. – Little Rock and Louisiana combined for 17 ties and 13 lead changes and neither team led by more than five points in a thrilling showdown in south Louisiana. But the Trojans' potential game-tying or winning possession was thwarted by the Ragin' Cajun defense and the Cajundome lighting system as Little Rock fell 66-64 Friday evening.
Down two following a pair of Louisiana free throws, Little Rock was seeking the possible game-tying or game-winning shot in the waning seconds when the red victory lights in the Cajundome kicked on with five seconds remaining, taking Little Rock out of their set play and forcing a
Ruot Monyyong desperation three-pointer at the buzzer that just missed.
The ending put a damper on what was a thrilling back-and-forth game between the projected top two teams in the West Division, led by a 17-point, 12-rebound performance from
Ruot Monyyong and an 18-point contribution from
Nikola Maric.
Game Notes
• Little Rock shot 46.6% from the game, making 27 of its 58 shots from the floor, while going 4-of-13 from three point range and 6-of-10 from the free throw line. The Trojans limited the Ragin' Cajuns to just 41.0% shooting (25-of-61) and 28.6% from three (6-of-21).
• Maric led the Trojans with 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting while pulling down three rebounds. He scored 12 points in the second half, including eight-straight points for Little Rock, before fouling out with 6:20 remaining.
• Monyyong registered his sixth double-double of the year, and 22nd of his Little Rock career, finishing with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Monyyong was 8-of-14 from the floor with a pair of assists and a block.
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Marko Andric had another solid night, starting his third game in a row and adding nine points on 3-of-5 shooting with a team-best five assists and two rebounds.
•
Kris Bankston finished with six points and three rebounds off the bench while
Ben Coupet Jr. added five points and a pair of rebounds.
Markquis Nowell, playing in his first Sun Belt game of the season, dished out four assists with two points.
• Louisiana outrebounded the Trojans 40-30, including 14-6 on the offensive glass, holding an 18-5 edge in second chance points. Little Rock held the advantage in the paint at 36-28.
First Half Notes
• It was a competitive, back-and-forth opening 20 minutes as Little Rock and Louisiana combined for six ties and six lead changes. Little Rock shot 47% from the floor (14-of-30), compared to 32% for the Ragin' Cajuns (32%).
• A dunk from Monyyong was the first points of the game for either team as a jumper from Maric and a three from Coupet over th opening four minutes gave the Trojans the early 7-6 lead.
• Louisiana extended its lead to as many as four at 18-14 at the 11:37 mark behind a jumper and dunk. Little Rock was able to string together a run of its own, tying the game at 18-18 off back-to-back jumpers from Lukic, knotting things up at 18-18 at the midway point of the first half.
• An 8-3 run for the Trojans turned that 18-14 deficit into a 22-21 advantage at the 7:39 mark as Bankston and Monyyong added layups to help give the Trojans their first lead since the Coupet three pointer.
• Louisiana answered with a 7-3 push of its own, building its lead back to four at 28-24 with 4:36 remaining. But Little Rock's defense clamped down on the Ragin' Cajuns as Louisiana made just one of its final 10 shots from the floor as a 7-1 run to close the half gave the Trojans the 31-29 halftime lead.
• Monyyong led the way offensively for Little Rock with 11 points and six boards, followed by four points each from Lukic and Bankston. The Trojans committed just six personal fouls in the opening 20 minutes, but they were costly as both Monyyong and Maric each committed three.
Second Half Notes
• The second half followed the same format as the first as Little Rock and Louisiana exchanged baskets through the opening minutes. Louisiana reclaimed the lead at 34-31 off five-straight points to start the half, only to see Little Rock take the 35-34 advantage at 17:14 thanks to points from Monyyong and Coupet.
• The Trojans and Cajuns combined for four ties and six lead changes through the opening 10 minutes. A layup from Nowell at the 10:58 mark evened the score at 46-46, but the Ragin' Cajuns rattled off five-straight points to take its largest lead of the game at 51-46 at the midway point of the second half.
• A three from Andric at the 9:53 mark ended the Ragin' Cajun run, pulling the Trojans to within two at 51-49. Maric then rattled off six-straight for Little Rock, guiding the Trojans to pull even with Louisiana at 55-55 at the 8:10 mark.
• Maric extended his streak to eight-straight points, once again tying the game at 57-57, but picked up his fifth foul immediately after to end his night with 12 points in the second half and 18 overall.
• The two teams exchanged baskets down the home stretch with neither team building more than a two point lead over the final five minutes. Little Rock pulled even twice in the final three minutes, setting up the dramatic finish.
• Little Rock shot 46.4% in the second half (13-of-28) and were just 5-for-8 from the free throw line, outrebounded by the Ragin' Cajuns 18-13. Louisiana shot 51.9% from the floor over the final 20 minutes and kept the Trojans from reclaiming the lead for the final 14:39.
Up Next
• Little Rock and Louisiana will go back at it tomorrow afternoon, playing the second game of the weekend series down at the Cajundome. Opening tip against the Ragin' Cajuns is set for 4 p.m.
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