LITTLE ROCK - Little Rock heads back on the road this weekend, traveling to San Marcos, Texas for a pair of games against Texas State. The Trojans and Bobcats tip at 4 p.m. on both Friday, Feb. 5 and Saturday, Feb. 6 as both games will be streamed live on ESPN+. Trojan Hall of Famer Ray Tucker will handle the radio call on 106.7 FM The Buz2, beginning at 3:40 p.m. both days.
"This is a big trip for our team as we have to head to an arena we haven't had much success in," said head coach
Darrell Walker. "(Texas State) took it to us a few weeks ago at home, so we know this will be a challenging series. It will be a defensive struggle, as it always is with them, and we just need to find a way to make shots and limit our turnovers."
GAME STORYLINES
• Little Rock enters the weekend third in the Sun Belt West Division at 6-4 in league play. The Trojans trail Louisiana (7-3) by one game and Texas State (5-3) by a half game in the standings.
• Little Rock and Texas State have split 18 all-time meetings between the programs with the Bobcats winning seven of the last eight. The Trojans are 3-5 all-time in San Marcos with the last win coming in a 77-74 double overtime victory in 2016.
• Texas State swept a weekend series in Little Rock earlier this season, defeating the Trojans 63-59 on January 15, followed by a 67-56 decision on January 16.
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Ruot Monyyong has 11 double-doubles on the year, tied for first nationally. His 27 career double-doubles is tied for eighth among active Division I players and he is one shy of matching Rashad Jones-Jennings for the all-time program mark.
• Monyyong is the Sun Belt's active leader in rebounding (490), blocks (93) and double-doubles (27), being named to the Lou Henson Award mid-season watch list last week.
• As a team, Little Rock boasts 17 double-doubles on the year (
Ruot Monyyong - 11,
Markquis Nowell - 4,
Nikola Maric - 2). That is tied for the most nationally with Illinois of the Big 10, and two better than Louisiana and McNeese's 15.
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Markquis Nowell enters the weekend needing 33 points to become the 21st member of the Trojan 1,000-point club. He is at 967 for his career and is also 31 rebounds shy of joining the 1,000/250/250 club.
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Nikola Maric has scored in double figures in 16 of Little Rock's 17 games this season, posting his second double-double of the year Saturday against ULM. He has had seven other games this season where he finished with double-figure points and either eight or nine rebounds.
NEWS AND NOTES
SCOUTING THE BOBCATS
2020-21: 11-6 overall, 5-3 Sun Belt
Last Three Games: L vs. Louisiana (74-73), L vs. Louisiana (62-60), W at ULM (69-63)
Head Coach: Terrence Johnson (Southern, 2001). First season at Texas State (11-6)
Key Players:
• #12 Mason Harrell (Jr., G): 13.7 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 45.7 FG%
• #2 Caleb Asberry (Jr., G): 12.7 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 44.6 3FG%
• #1 Isiah Small (Sr., F): 10.2 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 55.6 FG%
• #25 Alonzo Sule (Jr., F): 7.9 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 49.1 FG%
• #4 Shelby Adams (Sr., G): 6.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 45.9 FG%
WE MEET AGAIN
Little Rock and Texas State meet for the second time this season after the Bobcats swept a weekend series at the Jack Stephens Center. Both games were marked by late second half runs as the Trojans last-minute rally came up short in the 63-59 Bobcat victory on Friday, Jan. 15. Texas State used a 16-7 run over the final nine minutes on Saturday, Jan. 16 to earn the 67-56 decision.
LAST TIME OUT
Little Rock swept a pair of games against ULM at the Jack Stephens Center to pull back into the Sun Belt West Division race. The Trojans used a 13-2 run over the final four minutes to rally past the Warhawks 66-62 on Friday, Jan. 29, then used a similar run midway through the second half the following day to pull away for a 65-49 victory.
500-500 MAN
Ruot Monyyong continues to inch closer to an impressive career mark, seeking to become the only active Sun Belt player with both 500 career points and 500 career rebounds. Monyyong currently sits at 589 points and 490 rebounds for his career, and is the Sun Belt's active leader in rebounds (490), blocks (93) and double-doubles (27).
CLEANING THE GLASS
Ruot Monyyong continues to establish himself as one of the nation's top rebounders, pulling down 21 in two games against ULM. He has registered 12 double-digit rebounding games this season, sitting third nationally in total rebounds (188), eight in total rebounds (11.1) and 10th in defensive rebounds (7.9) per game, tied for first nationally with 11 double-doubles.
CHASING THE CROWN
Ruot Monyyong continues to draw closer to becoming Little Rock's all-time double-double leader. One of the national leaders, Monyyong has registered a double-double in seven of the last nine games and has 11 on the season, tied for first nationally. His efforts over the weekend upped his career total to 27, sitting one shy of matching Rashad Jones-Jennings (2005-07) for the program's all-time mark of 28. Monyyong's 27 career double-doubles is tied for eighth among active Division I players.
CONSISTENT NIKOLA
Nikola Maric has been arguably Little Rock's most consistent player in 2020-21, scoring in double figures in 16 of 17 games and ranking second on the team with a 14.8 scoring average. He is quietly making his run at 1,000 career points, scoring 710 for his career with 324 rebounds and 44 blocks while starting 47 of his 63 games as a Trojan.
CLOSING IN ON 1,000
Markquis Nowell continues to inch closer to joining an elite Trojan club. With his 33 points in two games against ULM, he upped his career point total to 967, leaving him 33 shy of becoming the 21st member of the Trojan 1,000-point club and the first since Will Neighbour in 2014. He continues to move up the all-time Trojan greats in a handful of other categories, remaining Little Rock's all-time leader in free throw percentage.
RUOT BLOCK PARTY
Ruot Monyyong came up big with four blocks in two games against ULM over the weekend, upping his career total to 93 and moving into fifth all-time in program history. He has registered at least one block in every game this season and is seven shy of becoming the fifth player in program history to amass 100 career blocks.
DOUBLE FIGURE CLUB
Eight Trojans have combined for 57 double-figure performances in 2020-21, led by 16 for Nikola Maric, 13 for Ruot Monyyong and 12 for Markquis Nowell, who sits two shy of his 50th career game with at least 10 points.
THROWING IT DOWN
Little Rock's size has made it one of the Sun Belt's top dunking threats, holding a 46-25 advantage on the opposition this year. Ruot Monyyong has thrown it down 23 times for the Trojans in 2020-21, upping his career total to 80, while Kris Bankston sits at 103 career dunks following his nine on the season.
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