LITTLE ROCK - Little Rock returns to Indiana for the second time this year for the first-ever meeting with Southern Indiana on Thursday, January 12 in Evansville. Opening tip is set for 8:05 p.m. at Screaming Eagles Arena with the game being broadcast live nationally on ESPNUÂ with Robert Ford and Richie Schueler on the call. Trojan Hall of Famer Ray Tucker will handle the radio broadcast on 106.7 FM The Buz2, getting underway at approximately 7:45 p.m.
GAME STORYLINES
• Little Rock and Southern Indiana meet for the first time as the two joined the Ohio Valley Conference on July 1, 2022. The Screaming Eagles are the fourth of seven opponents the Trojans will be facing for the first time this season.
• Little Rock is making the second of three trips to the state of Indiana this season, returning to Evansville for the OVC tournament in March. The Trojans are 1-6 all-time in the Hoosier State, including an 87-68 loss at 11th-ranked Indiana on Nov. 23.
• Thursday's game will pit the OVC's top-two rebounders head-to-head as Southern Indiana's Jacob Polakovich has 170 rebounds, averaging 11.3 per game, while Little Rock's
Myron Gardner has tallied 165 boards, averaging 9.7 per game.
•
Myron Gardner enters Saturday's game among the top-20 nationally in four statistical categories, tied for third in the nation with an OVC-best 10 double-doubles. He trails only St. John's Joel Soriano (14) and Purdue's Zach Edey (13) while also ranking ninth nationally in total rebounds (165).
• 10 different Trojans have scored in double figures this season with four Trojans averaging in double figures.
Myron Gardner has scored 10 or more points in 15 of 17 games this season with
DeAntoni Gordon doing so 11 times and
D.J. Smith and
Jordan Jefferson reaching the mark eight times.
• Little Rock is looking for its first road win of the year, dropping all 10 road contests this year and looking to end a 12-game road winless streak, dating back to the 66-62 win at Troy on Feb. 12.
• After using 17 different starting lineups last year, the Trojans have used just four in 2022-23 with
Myron Gardner,
DeAntoni Gordon and
D.J. Smith starting all 17 games thus far.
NEWS AND NOTES
SCOUTING THE SCREAMING EAGLES
2022-23: 8-9 overall, 1-3 Ohio Valley Conference
Last Three Games: L vs. SIU Edwardsville (69-62), L at Morehead State (84-80), L at Eastern Illinois (91-80)
Head Coach: Stan Gouard (Southern Indiana, 1999). Third season at USI (38-22), 15th season overall (266-139)
Key Players:
• #33 Trevor Lakes (Gr. F): 13.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 44.4 3FG%
• #0 Jelani Simmons (Sr., G): 12.9 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 44.4 FG%
• #1 Isaiah Swope (So., G): 12.8 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 44.4 3FG%
• #32 Jacob Polakovich (Sr., F): 11.1 ppg, 11.3 rpg, 54.5 FG%
• #3 Tyler Henry (Jr., G): 9.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 36.1 FG%
BACK TO THE HOOSIER STATE
Little Rock and Southern Indiana meet for the first time as the Trojans will play just the eighth game in program history in the state of Indiana. Little Rock is 1-6 all-time in the Hoosier State and will make the second of three trips to Indiana this year, falling at 11th-ranked Indiana 87-68 in Bloomington on November 23. The Trojans' lone win in Indiana was a neutral site 77-62 win over Pepperdine in Indianapolis on December 28, 1994.
LAST TIME OUT
After falling behind early, Little Rock pulled to within one in the waning moments against Southeast Missouri, but couldn't get over the hump in a 74-68 loss to the Redhawks at the Jack Stephens Center on January 7. The Trojans hit a season-high 58.1% from three-point range while holding the Redhawks to just 23.1% from beyond the arc as four players finished in double figures, led by 14 from
D.J. Smith and 13 from
Isaiah Palermo.
MR. DO IT ALL
Myron Gardner continues to pace Little Rock this season, leading the Ohio Valley Conference with his 10th double-double against Southeast Missouri Saturday, finishing with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Gardner enters the week leading Little Rock in scoring (13.8 ppg), rebounding (9.7 rpg), assists (3.5 apg), steals (1.6 spg) and minutes (31.1 mpg), ranking second in three point (38.3%) and third in free throw percentage (74.4%).
MYRON AMONG NATIONAL LEADERS
Myron Gardner enters Thursday's game ranked among the top-20 nationally in four statistical categories and is among the top-10 of Ohio Valley Conference players in six categories as well.
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| Category |
Stat |
OVC |
NCAA |
| Double-Doubles |
10 |
1st |
T-3rd |
| Total Rebounds |
165 |
2nd |
9th |
| Defensive Rebounds/Game |
7.1 |
1st |
17th |
| Rebounds/Game |
9.7 |
2nd |
20th |
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ADDING CONSISTENCY
DeAntoni Gordon has been solid in his second season for Little Rock, sitting third on the team in scoring (10.6 ppg) and second in rebounding (5.6 rpg). Gordon ranks third on the team in field goal (49.0%) and second in free throw percentage (79.5%) with 11 games in double figures, the second-most among the team.
SPARK OFF THE BENCH
Isaiah Palermo and CJ White both provided sparks off the bench for Little Rock against Southeast Missouri, combining for 23 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Palermo scored a season-high 13 points, going 7-of-8 from the free throw line, while tying a career-high with four steals while White added 10 points, seven rebounds and five assists.
501 CONNECTION
D.J. Smith and CJ White teamed up for a combined 24 points and 10 assists against Southeast Missouri Saturday as the two both hail from the Little Rock 501 area code. In addition to White's numbers, Smith led the team in scoring with 14 points against the Redhawks, his eighth double figure game of the year, with five assists, one shy of his season-best.
DOUBLE FIGURE TROJANS
10 different Trojans have combined for 59 double figure games this season with D.J. Smith (14), Isaiah Palermo (13), Myron Gardner (12) and CJ White (10) reaching the mark against Southeast Missouri. Four players are averaging at least 10 points through 17 games, led by Gardner's 13.8 points per game with Smith (10.9), Gordon (10.6) and Jordan Jefferson (10.1) also averaging in double figures.
STRUGGLES ON THE ROAD
Little Rock has is still searching for its first road victory of the year, sitting at 0-10 in 2022-23. The Trojans have dropped 12-straight true road games, dating back to the 66-62 win at Troy on February 12, 2022. Little Rock does have a pair of wins away from the Jack Stephens Center during that stretch, defeating South Alabama in Pensacola, Florida at the Sun Belt Tournament and besting UT Martin at Simmons Bank Arena on Dec. 29.
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