JONESBORO, Ark. – Behind a career-high 30 points for
Jordan Jefferson and
Myron Gardner's seventh double-double of the year, Little Rock built a 13-point second half lead over rival Arkansas State. But the Red Wolves used a furious rally over the final 15 minutes to hand the Trojans a heartbreaking 77-75 loss at First National Bank Arena.
Jefferson's 30 points came on 10-of-12 shooting from the floor as he was a perfect 5-for-5 from three point range and 5-of-7 from the free throw line. Jefferson became the first Trojan to reach the 30-point mark since
Isaiah Palermo did it against Champion Christian on November 12, 2021, as he added three rebounds and four steals.
Gardner tallied his Ohio Valley Conference-best seventh double-double, finishing with 10 points and 10 rebounds, scoring eight points and grabbing eight boards in the second half.
DeAntoni Gordon also had a strong showing for the Trojans with 16 points and five rebounds.
Ethan Speaker scored eight points with four rebounds off the bench and
Chris Walker added five points as Little Rock shot 44.6% for the game (25-of-56), going 6-of-13 from three point range (46.25) and knocking down 19-of-23 from the free throw line (82.6%).
But Arkansas State matched the effort shooting 48.3% for the game, including 55.6% in the second half and going 4-of-6 from three point range over the final 20 minutes to fuel the comeback. The Red Wolves held a 40-31 rebounding edge, including 18-10 in offensive boards to lead to a 22-12 edge in second chance points.
Playing for the first time in nearly two years, Little Rock and Arkansas State exchanged baskets early with neither team able to build more than a four-point lead through the first nine minutes. Jefferson came out firing for the Trojans, scoring Little Rock's first five points and eight of the first 14, helping Little Rock build a five-point lead at 16-11 at the midway point of the first half.
Trojan turnovers and Red Wolves offensive rebounds kept Arkansas State close before Little Rock used a 9-3 run, including five-of-five from the free throw line, pushing the lead to nine at 27-18 at the 6:01 mark off an and-one for Jefferson. Little Rock pushed its first half lead to as many as 10 at 38-28 with just over two minutes to go in the half, taking a 39-31 lead into the locker room at the half.
Jefferson was the offensive spark plug in the first 20 minutes, going 6-of-8 from the floor and was a perfect 3-for-3 from three point range, scoring 17 to pace all scorers. Gordon added 10 points with three rebounds as Little Rock shot 46.7% in the first half and was 3-of-6 from three point range while going 8-of-9 from the free throw line.
A mini surge by Arkansas State early in the second half pulled the Red Wolves to within four at 41-37 with two minutes gone, but Little Rock used a 9-2 run, including seven-straight, to build a 13-point advantage at 53-40 with 15:06 remaining. The stretch was aided by the Trojan's free throw shooting as Little Rock hit five of six during the run.
But Arkansas State continued to show why it is a strong second half team, using a 23-7 run over the next 10 minutes to take the lead at 63-60, holding the Trojans to just two field goals during that span.
Little Rock responded with an 11-2 run of its own, led by seven points from Jefferson, reclaiming the lead at 71-65 with 3:10 remaining with Walker adding a key three pointer during the stretch.
Jefferson would score the final four points for Little Rock, including a layup with 34 seconds to go to give the Trojans the 75-74 lead, but Arkansas State finished the game on an 11-2 run over the final 2:13, handing Little Rock the heartbreaking loss as
D.J. Smith's potential game-winning layup in the final seconds was off the mark.
The Trojans shot 42.3% over the final 20 minutes, going 11-of-26 from the floor and 3-of-7 from the free throw line, but foul trouble caught up with Little Rock as Gordon, Jefferson and Speaker all fouled out, giving the Red Wolves 20 free throws over the final 20 minutes to help aid the comeback.
Arkansas State was led by 25 points each from both Omar El-Sheikh and Terrance Jordan as El-Sheikh added 15 rebounds, the first player to grab more than eight in a game against Little Rock this season.
Little Rock now prepares for its inaugural season in the Ohio Valley Conference, opening up league play on Thursday, December 29 against UT Martin. Opening tip against the Skyhawks is set for 7:30 p.m. at the Jack Stephens Center.
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