| GAME 13 - ARKANSAS STATE |
| Date/Time |
Thursday, December 22 - 2 p.m. |
| Location |
Jonesboro, Ark. |
| Arena |
First National Bank Arena |
| Records |
Little Rock (4-8, 0-0 OVC)
Arkansas State (7-5, 0-0 SBC) |
| Watch |
ESPN+ |
| Listen |
106.7 FM The Buz2 |
| Live Stats |
StatBroadcast |
| Notes |
Little Rock | Arkansas State |
LITTLE ROCK - Little Rock closes out its non-conference slate against a familiar foe, facing longtime rival Arkansas State at 2 p.m. Thursday, December 22 at First National Bank Arena in Jonesboro. The game against the Red Wolves will stream live on ESPN+ with Graham Doty and Brian Boyer on the call while Patrick Walsh will handle radio duties on 106.7 FM The Buz2, beginning at 1:45 p.m.
GAME STORYLINES
• The Trojans and Red Wolves have the longest standing in-state rivalry, meeting 93 times since the 1932 season. Arkansas State holds a 57-36 edge in the all-time series.
• This will be the first meeting between the rivals since February 13, 2021, a span of 677 days. The two meetings scheduled for the 2021-22 season were canceled due to COVID positives with the Trojans.
• Little Rock is 11-26 in Jonesboro in the Division I era and has won two of the last four at First National Bank Arena, the last of which was the 81-78 victory on February 22, 2020.
•
Myron Gardner notched his OVC-best sixth double-double against Central Arkansas, ranking ninth nationally, as he leads Little Rock in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals and minutes.
•
DeAntoni Gordon notched his second career double-double against Central Arkansas Tuesday and
CJ White became the ninth different Trojan to finish in double figures in a game this season.
•
Jordan Jefferson has scored in double figures in four-straight games and is shooting 57.9% from the floor since entering the starting lineup three games ago.
•
D.J. Smith enters Thursday's game second on the team in scoring, assists, steals and minutes while leading Little Rock with an 83.3% free throw percentage.
• Thursday's game is the fifth and final game against a Natural State opponent with the Trojans sitting at 3-1 with wins over Arkansas Baptist, Philander Smith and Central Arkansas.
NEWS AND NOTES
SCOUTING THE RED WOLVES
2022-23: 7-5 overall, 0-0 Sun Belt Conference
Last Three Games: W vs. Alabama State (72-65), w vs. Southeast Missouri (68-61), L at Air Force (80-55)
Head Coach: Mike Balado (St. Thomas, 1998). Sixth season at Arkansas State and overall (74-83)
Key Players:
• #0 Caleb Fields (Jr., G): 13.3 ppg, 5.0 apg, 50.9 FG%
• #10 Malcolm Farrington (So., G): 11.6 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 41.5 3FG%
• #1 Markise Davis (Sr., G/F): 9.3 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 50.0 FG%
• #22 Omar El-Sheikh (Gr., F): 9.1 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 46.2 FG%
• #2 Avery Felts (R-So., G): 8.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 40.0 3FG%
WE MEET AGAIN ...
Little Rock and Arkansas State hold the longest standing rivalry in the Natural State with the two teams meeting 93 times since 1932. The Red Wolves hold a 57-36 lead in the all-time series and have won seven of the last 10. The 93 meetings is the most in program history for Little Rock against an opponent, followed by 60 against Louisiana and 55 against South Alabama.
... BUT IT'S BEEN A WHILE
It has been a while since these two rivals went head-to-head. Thursday will mark 677 days since the last meeting when Arkansas State defeated Little Rock 67-65 at the Jack Stephens Center on February 13, 2021. The two meetings scheduled for the 2021-22 season were canceled due to COVID positive tests for the Trojans.
LAST TIME OUT
Five players scored in double figures, led by double-doubles from
Myron Gardner and
DeAntoni Gordon, as Little Rock used a season-high 13-0 run in the first half to pace itself past Central Arkansas 75-66 Tuesday at the Jack Stephens Center. Gardner led the way with 17 points, 13 rebounds and six assists as Little Rock went 14-of-16 from the free throw line while holding the Bears to 66 points, a season-low against a Division I opponent.
WIN NUMBER 100 FOR WALKER
Head coach
Darrell Walker is in year number five in Little Rock with an overall record of 55-73 at the helm of the Trojans. He registered his 100th win as a collegiate head coach against Philander Smith on December 12, including the 46 victories at Clark Atlanta. 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 active head coaches that won an NBA title as a player.
MR. DO IT ALL
Myron Gardner continues to pace Little Rock this season, leading the Ohio Valley Conference with his sixth double-double against Central Arkansas Tuesday night. Gardner was the team leader in points (17), rebounds (13), assists (six) and steals (two) as he enters Thursday night's game leading Little Rock in scoring (13.6 ppg), rebounding (9.5 rpg), assists (3.8 apg), steals (1.9 spg) and minutes (31.6 mpg), ranking second in three point (37.0%) and free throw percentage (79.2%). He ranks ninth nationally in double-doubles and is among the top-30 in rebounds per game (22nd), total rebounds (24th) and defensive rebounds per game (29th).
HEATING UP
Jordan Jefferson is finding his scoring touch as the sophomore has finished in double figures in four-straight games, averaging 13.3 points per game during that span. Jefferson has started each of the last three games for Little Rock, going 15-of-26 (57.7%) from the floor during his starts.
OVC HONORS TIMES TWO
Ethan Speaker registered his second Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Week honor Monday after averaging 12.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per game last week. Speaker flirted with a double-double against Philander Smith, finishing with 16 points and nine rebounds, then followed it up with an eight-point, five-rebound effort at Jacksonville State.
DOUBLE FIGURE TROJANS
CJ White became the ninth different Trojans to reach double figures this season, scoring a season-high 10 against Central Arkansas.
Myron Gardner has reached double figures in 10 of the 12 games this season, scoring nine in the two games he didn't, and has now reached double figures in 19 of his 28 games in a Trojan uniform (67.9%), the highest on the roster.
STRUGGLES ON THE ROAD
Little Rock has is still searching for its first road victory of the year, sitting at 0-8 in 2022-23. The Trojans have dropped 10-straight true road games, dating back to the 66-62 win at Troy on February 12, 2022, with the last win in Jonesboro coming in the 81-78 victory on Feb. 22, 2020.
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