Pivotal Showdown Set for Thursday as Little Rock Hosts Tennessee Tech

Game 18 | Tennessee Tech
Tip-Off	Thursday, Jan. 19 | 5 p.m.
Location	Little Rock, Ark.
Venue	Jack Stephens Center
Watch	ESPN+
Radio	LRSN (920 AM)
Live Stats	Stat Broadcast
Tickets	Click to Purchase
Twitter	@LittleRockWBB
Series History	First Meeting
Game Notes	Little Rock | Tennessee Tech | OVC

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A pair of teams tied for second in the Ohio Valley Conference standings will square off on Joe Foley Court at the Jack Stephens Center Thursday evening when Little Rock plays host to Tennessee Tech in a pivotal OVC battle.
 
Both the Trojans and the Golden Eagles enter the contest with identical 5-1 record in league play and both just one game behind Eastern Illinois (6-0), the league leader.
 
Series History

• This is the first time the two teams will meet on the hardwood.
• The Trojans are 23-30 all-time against teams from the Volunteer State but have won six straight against teams from that state to our East.

 
Five Things to Know

1. Seventh Heaven?
   Little Rock looks to continue a streak on Thursday as the Trojans have a chance to win their seventh consecutive game against a team from the state of Tennessee. Earlier this season, Little Rock claimed wins over UT Martin (45-44) and Tennessee State (64-57). Last season, the Trojans posted wins over Memphis (55-50) and Vanderbilt (56-40) while the previous season wins also came against Memphis (61-52) and Vanderbilt (82-74). The last time Little Rock lost to a team from the state of Tennessee was on Dec. 17, 2019, in a 68-50 loss to Memphis. Does Tennessee Tech volunteer to be next?
2. We Don't Share Well with Others
   One of the best anti-theft devices is ... the Little Rock Trojans. The Trojans enter this game with opposing teams averaging just 5.8 steals per game against Little Rock, a mark that ranks the Maroon and Silver 16th in the nation and leads the OVC. That includes an opposing team steal rate of just 7.4%, ranking Little Rock 42nd in the country and leads the Ohio Valley. Little Rock is one of only two OVC programs holding teams under 7.0 steals per game and a steal rate of less than 8.5% (Tennessee Tech).
3. Neither does Tennessee Tech
   The only team in the Ohio Valley Conference that is even sniffing the level of ball protection the Trojans have going just happens to be the Golden Eagles. TTU enters this game with opponents averaging just 6.9 steals per game and posting an opposing steal rate of 8.5%. Both numbers rank second to Little Rock in the OVC. For TTU, opponents steals per game of 6.9 ranks 91st in the nation while the 8.5% opponent steal rate ranks 113th in the country.
4. Ready to Break the Tie
   Little Rock and Tennessee Tech are set for a pivotal match-up Thursday when the two teams, even at 5-1 in league play, face each other on Joe Foley Court at the Jack Stephens Center. With the next crop of teams entering the week at 3-3 (UT Martin, SIUE), the team that falters Thursday will still be in third place but the winner will keep hold of second place and remain just one game back of league-leading Eastern Illinois.
5. A Benjamin? Teams Are Just Hoping for Half!
   Ohio Valley Conference teams are getting a rude awakening to just how suffocating Joe Foley's defense is, and the numbers speak for themselves. Entering this game, OVC teams are barely managing 45.3 points per game and only one OVC team has managed to score more than 50 points on the Trojans when Tennessee State lost to Little Rock's Team, 64-57, on Dec. 31 in Nashville. Not a single OVC team has reached the 60-point mark against the Trojans this season.

 
For the latest information on Little Rock Basketball, make sure to check out LRTrojans.com. You can also find the team on social media at @LittleRockWBB on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
 
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