LITTLE ROCK - Little Rock returns to the Jack Stephens Center for the return game against Tennessee State, hosting the Tigers at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 21. The game against the Tigers will stream live on ESPN+ with Hayden Balgavy and Patrick Newton on the call while Trojan Hall of Famer Ray Tucker will handle the radio broadcast on 106.7 FM The Buz2, starting at approximately 3:15 p.m.
GAME STORYLINES
• Little Rock and Tennessee State have met four times previously with each team winning twice. The Tigers defeated the Trojans 94-69 back on December 31 in Nashville in the Trojans' first-ever OVC road game. Little Rock is 1-0 against Tennessee State in the Jack Stephens Center, handing the Tigers an 86-62 loss on December 10, 2019.
•
Myron Gardner enters Saturday's game among the top-30 nationally in four statistical categories. Gardner is tied for seventh in the nation with an OVC-best 10 double-doubles and is among the national leaders in rebounding. But Gardner is questionable after missing Thursday's game with an illness.
•
CJ White notched his second career double-double against Tennessee Tech Thursday, flirting with a triple-double with 11 points, a career-high 13 rebounds and eight assists. White became the third different Trojan to record a double-double, joining
Myron Gardner (10) and
DeAntoni Gordon (three).
• Five different Trojans reached double figures against Tennessee Tech Thursday, tied for the most in a single game this season. 10 different Trojans have combined for 68 double figure games this year, led by 17 from
Myron Gardner and 13 for
DeAntoni Gordon.
• In the last four games, Little Rock has attempted just 47 free throws, compared to 85 for the opposition. The Trojans have taken advantage, making 37 (78.7%) while opponents have made just 45 (52.9%) during that span.
• Saturday's game will be the sixth of the year against a team from the state of Tennessee, the most in a single year in program history. Little Rock is slated to play eight games against teams from the Volunteer State with trips to Tennessee Tech and UT Martin still on the schedule.
NEWS AND NOTES
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
2022-23: 11-9 overall, 3-4 Ohio Valley Conference
Last Three Games: W vs. Eastern Illinois (78-74), L at Tennessee Tech (71-63), L vs. UT Martin (77-66)
Head Coach: Brian "Penny" Collins (Belmont, 2006). Fifth season at TSU and overall (57-81)
Key Players:
• #4 Jr. Clay (Gr., G): 18.2 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 43.1 FG%
• #1 Marcus Fitzgerald Jr. (So., G): 14.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 39.4 FG%
• #10 Adong Makuoi (Gr., C): 10.2 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 63.8 FG%
• #20 Dedric Boyd (R-Sr., G): 10.2 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 39.9 FG%
• #0 Zion Griffin (Gr., F): 8.1 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 45.1 FG%
SERIES HISTORY
Little Rock and Tennessee State meet for the fifth time Saturday with the two teams splitting the first four meetings. The Tigers defeated the Trojans 94-69 in Nashville on December 31 in Little Rock's first-ever OVC road game. Little Rock is 1-0 against Tennessee State at the Jack Stephens Center, defeating the Tigers 86-62 on December 10, 2019.
LAST TIME OUT
Little Rock rallied from a 12-point second half deficit to get to within one in the waning seconds, but the rally attempt came up just short as the Trojans fell to Tennessee Tech 77-75. The Trojans tied a season-high with five players finishing in double figures, led by
CJ White nearly notching a triple-double with 11 points, a career-high 13 rebounds and tying a career-high with eight assists while making his first start of the season. He was complemented by 16 points from
DeAntoni Gordon with six rebounds.
MR. DO IT ALL
Myron Gardner continues to pace Little Rock this season, leading the Ohio Valley Conference with 10th double-doubles on the season. Gardner enters Saturday's game leading Little Rock in scoring (13.6 ppg), rebounding (9.5 rpg), assists (3.6 apg), steals (1.7 spg) and minutes (31.2 mpg), ranking second in three point (39.7%) and third in free throw percentage (76.0%). However, Gardner is questionable for Saturday's game after missing Thursday's game against Tennessee Tech with an illness.
PROVIDING CONSISTENCY
DeAntoni Gordon remains a consistent presence in his second season in Little Rock, leading the team with 16 points against Tennessee Tech. Gordon ranks second on the team in scoring (11.2 ppg) and rebounding (5.5 rpg), sitting third in field goal percentage (48.4%) and fourth in qualifying free throw percentage (75.5%). Gordon has reached double figures in 13 games this season, second-most on the team, doing so now in 18 of his 28 games in a Trojan uniform (64.2%).
SPARK OFF THE BENCH
CJ White once again provided a spark of the bench for the Trojans, flirting with a triple-double while setting a career-high in rebounds (13), tying a career-high in assists (8) and setting a season-best in points (11) against Tennessee Tech. Over the last four games, White ranks third on the team in scoring (9.3 ppg), second in rebounding (8.8 rpg) and first in assists (4.8 apg) while ranking second in minutes played (32.0).
SCORING TOUCH
Little Rock's guard play came up big in the rally attempt against Tennessee Tech Thursday night with the Trojan guards combining for 49 of Little Rock's 75 points.
Isaiah Palermo (15),
D.J. Smith (13),
CJ White (11) and
Jordan Jefferson (10) each reached double figures, making six three pointers and going a combined 7-of-8 from the free throw line.
DOUBLE FIGURE TROJAN
10 different Trojans have combined for 68 double figure games this season with five different players reaching the mark against Tennessee Tech, tied for the most in a game this season.
Myron Gardner leads all Trojans with 17 games in double figures this year and 26 for his career, scoring 10 or more points in 74.3% of his games as a Trojan (26-of-35).
DeAntoni Gordon ranks second at 64.2%, reaching the mark in 18 of his 28 games.
#LittleRocksTeam
