| GAME 3 - CENTRAL ARKANSAS |
| Date/Time |
Monday, Nov. 14 - 7 p.m. |
| Location |
Conway, Ark. |
| Arena |
Farris Center |
| Records |
Little Rock (1-1, 0-0 OVC)
Central Arkansas (1-1, A-SUN) |
| Watch |
ESPN+ |
| Listen |
106.7 FM The Buz2 |
| Live Stats |
UCASports.com |
| Notes |
Little Rock | Central Arkansas |
LITTLE ROCK - Little Rock makes the short 33.5 mile trek to Conway to face Central Arkansas Monday in the first of two Governor's I-40 Showdowns this season. Opening tip is set for 7 p.m. from the Farris Center and will stream live on ESPN+ with James Westling and Dylan McClemore on the call. Trojan Hall of Famer Ray Tucker will have the radio broadcast on 106.7 FM The Buz2, beginning at 6:45 p.m.
GAME STORYLINES
• Little Rock and Central Arkansas are both coming off victories over in-city foes in their home openers as the Trojans bested Arkansas Baptist 71-60 while the Bears defeated Hendrix 107-56.
• Head coach
Darrell Walker is 2-2 all-time against Central Arkansas as the Trojans have won the last two meetings, the last of which was the 86-83 win at the Jack Stephens Center on December 8, 2020.
• Central Arkansas leads the all-time series 36-15, but the Trojans have won 13 of the last 16, broken up by a three-game win streak for the Bears from 2017-18. Little Rock is 3-3 at the Farris Center since the 1973-74 season.
• This will be the first meeting between the two schools since the December 8, 2020 game as last year's meeting was postponed due to a flu outbreak among the Trojan basketball program. Only four total players who played in that 2020 game are expected to suit up Monday night.
• Head coach
Darrell Walker won his 98th career game as a collegiate coach in the 71-60 win over Arkansas Baptist, sitting at 98-84 for his career and 52-66 in year five in Little Rock.
• Five different Trojans have scored in double figures this season, led by a pair from
DeAntoni Gordon, as four players are averaging in double figures through the first two games of the year.
• Monday night's game is the start of a tough stretch for Little Rock as the Trojans will play six of their next seven games on the road, playing three 2022 NCAA tournament teams in five different states and traveling approximately 7,000 miles during that span.
NEWS AND NOTES
SCOUTING THE BEARS
2022-23: 1-1 overall, 0-0 Atlantic Sun
Last Two Games: W vs. Hendrix (107-56), L at Wichita State (79-55)
Head Coach: Anthony Boone (Ole Miss, 1998). Fourth season at UCA and overall (26-53)
Key Players:
• #11 Carl Daughtery (Fr., G): 13.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 80.0 FG%
• #23 Camren Hunter (So., G): 13.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 38.5 FG%
• #5 Masai Olowokere (Jr., G): 13.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 48.0 FG%
• #13 Eddy Kayouloud (Sr., F): 9.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 42.9 FG%
• #10 Ibbe Klintman (So., F): 8.0 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 54.5 FG%
ITS BEEN A WHILE
It's been nearly two years since Little Rock and Central Arkansas last squared off against each other as the Trojans won 86-83 at the Jack Stephens Center on December 6, 2020. Only two players on each team's 2022-23 rosters saw action in that game -
Jovan Stulic and
Isaiah Palermo for Little Rock and Eddy Kayouloud and Masai Olowokere for Central Arkansas.
LET'S PLAY TWO
Little Rock and Central Arkansas will play twice this year in the 2022-23 installment of the Governor's I-40 Showdown. Last season's game in Conway was postponed due to a flu outbreak among the Trojan basketball program with Monday's game the resumption of that postponement. The two teams will meet at the Jack Stephens Center on December 20.
LAST TIME OUT
Four players scored in double figures, led by a double-double from
Myron Gardner and a career-high 16 points from
Nigel John, as Little Rock pulled away late for a 71-60 victory over Arkansas Baptist at the Jack Stephens Center on November 10. The Trojans out-rebounded the Buffaloes 52-39 and dished out 15 assists, notching the win in their home opener.
CLOSING IN ON 100
Head coach
Darrell Walker begins year number five in Little Rock with an overall record of 52-66 at the helm of the Trojans. He registered his 98th win as a collegiate head coach Thursday night, sitting at 98-84 for his career. Walker boasts a pair of impressive accomplishments as he is the only coach in the nation that has served as a head coach at the NBA, WNBA, Division II and Division I ranks and is one of just five head coaches that won an NBA title as a player.
DOUBLE-DOUBLE MYRON
Myron Gardner had a strong showing in the home opener, finishing with 11 points and 13 rebounds for his first double-double of the season and second of his career. He had 24 points and 11 rebounds at UT Arlington on Feb. 17 and notched the first triple-double in Little Rock program history, finishing with 13 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists against App State on Feb. 23. It was the 10th double-digit performance for Gardner who has played in 17 games during his Little Rock career.
POWER INSIDE
Sophomore
Nigel John had his most productive game in a Trojan uniform Thursday, leading Little Rock with 16 points while grabbing seven rebounds in the win over Arkansas Baptist. John was 4-of-9 from the floor and knocked down eight of his 10 free throw attempts while registering a block.
NEW CAREER HIGH
Along with the career-high 16 points for
Nigel John, redshirt freshman
Chris Walker posted a career-high 12 points in the win over Arkansas Baptist Thursday. Walker went 3-for-7 from three and 3-for-6 from the free throw line, pulling down a pair of rebounds with two assists.
STRONG ON THE GLASS
Rebounding was a point of emphasis after the season opener for head coach
Darrell Walker and Little Rock responded against Arkansas Baptist. After pulling down just 25 rebounds in the loss to the Salukis, the Trojans grabbed 52 boards against the Buffaloes, a +27 difference. It was the most for the program in a game under Walker and the highest since pulling down 55 against Centenary on November 18, 2015.
NATURAL STATE FOE
Monday's game against Central Arkansas marks the second of five games against opponents from the state of Arkansas for the Trojans this year. Head coach
Darrell Walker is 9-8 against opponents from the Natural State during his time in Little Rock, including a 2-2 record against the Bears.
RACK UP THE MILES
Little Rock will rack up plenty of miles to start the 2022-23 season as the Trojans will play nine games in six different states to open the year. Little Rock will travel approximately 7,300 miles from November 7 through December 6, heading to Illinois (Southern Illinois), Tennessee twice (East Tennessee State and Memphis), Indiana (Indiana), Ohio (Miami) and California (San Francisco) along with the short road trip to Conway.
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