LITTLE ROCK - Little Rock looks to get back in the thick of the Ohio Valley Conference standings, facing Southeast Missouri at the Jack Stephens Center for a 3:30 p.m. tip on Saturday, January 7. The game against the Redhawks will stream on ESPN+ with Hayden Balgavy and Patrick Newton on the call with Trojan Hall of Famer Ray Tucker handling the radio broadcast on 106.7 FM The Buz2, beginning at approximately 3:15 p.m.
GAME STORYLINES
• Little Rock is 3-1 all-time against the Redhawks, including a 2-0 record in Little Rock. The last meeting between the two was an 81-56 Trojan win at then-Alltel Arena on December 17, 2002.
• Little Rock is 4-1 at the Jack Stephens Center this season as the Trojans will be playing on a temporary court for the remainder of the season following flooding from a burst AC coil. The court was utilized by Gonzaga and Michigan State onboard the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Armed Forces Classic in November.
•
Myron Gardner enters Saturday's game among the top-50 nationally in six statistical categories, tied for third in the nation with an OVC-best nine double-doubles. He trails only St. John's Joel Soriano (13), Purdue's Zach Edey (11) while also ranking eighth nationally in total rebounds (153).
• 10 different Trojans have scored in double figures this season with
Ante Beljan joining the group after a career-high 11-point performance against Lindenwood in his first career start.
• Four different Trojans are averaging in double figures as
Myron Gardner has finished with 10 or more points in 12-straight games while
Jordan Jefferson had reached the mark in seven of the last eight games.
• Little Rock ranks 42nd nationally in free throws attempted per game (21.4) and is 52nd in free throws made (15.1) per game. But the Trojans were just 7-for-11 from the line against Lindenwood, setting season-low marks in both attempts and makes.
• Little Rock used its fourth different starting lineup Wednesday against Lindenwood with
Ante Beljan making his first career start.
DeAntoni Gordon,
D.J. Smith and
Myron Gardner have started all 16 games for the Trojans this season.
NEWS AND NOTES
SCOUTING THE REDHAWKS
2022-23: 6-10 overall, 1-2 Ohio Valley Conference
Last Three Games: L at UT Martin (87-82), W vs. SIU Edwardsville (82-73), L at Southern Indiana (86-81)
Head Coach: Brad Korn (Southern Illinois, 2004). Third season at SEMO and overall (31-44)
Key Players:
• #1 Phillip Russell (So., G): 16.4 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 40.3 FG%
• #5 Chris Harris (R-Sr., G): 12.7 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 35.7 3FG%
• #0 Israel Barnes (R-Sr. G): 12.1 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 39.5 FG%
• #21 Josh Earley (Jr., F): 8.2 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 52.4 FG%
• #24 Kobe Clark (So., F): 7.2 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 37.8 FG%
SERIES HISTORY
Little Rock and Southeast Missouri have met four times previously with the Trojans holding a 3-1 edge in the all-time series, including a 2-0 mark in Little Rock. The last meeting between the two was an 81-56 Trojan win at then-Alltel Arena on December 17, 2002. Current Oklahoma coach Porter Moser was Little Rock's head coach in that win with Nick Zachery leading the Trojans with 16 points and seven rebounds.
LAST TIME OUT
Little Rock led by as many as 20 in the first half, but a furious second half rally for Lindenwood propelled the Lions past the Trojans 67-62 at the Jack Stephens Center Wednesday night. Little Rock made just one of its final 12 shots, compared to 11-of-13 for Lindenwood, overshadowing another stellar performance for
Myron Gardner who finished with 16 points and 15 rebounds.
MR. DO IT ALL
Myron Gardner continues to pace Little Rock this season, leading the Ohio Valley Conference with his ninth double-double against Lindenwood Wednesday, finishing with 16 points and 15 rebounds. Gardner enters Saturday leading Little Rock in scoring (13.9 ppg), rebounding (9.6 rpg), assists (3.6 apg), steals (1.8 spg) and minutes (31.3 mpg), ranking second in three point (36.8%) and third in free throw percentage (73.9%). Gardner is tied for third nationally in with nine double-doubles entering the weekend while ranking eighth in the nation in total rebounds (153).
STEPPING UP IN THE STARTING ROLE
Ante Beljan made his first career start Wednesday against Lindenwood and made his presence felt, setting career highs in points (11), rebounds (3), assists (2) and minutes (26). Beljan became the 10th different Trojan to reach double figures this season and the eighth different player to earn a spot in the starting lineup.
ADDING CONSISTENCY
DeAntoni Gordon just missed his fourth double-double of the year with a 10-point, eight-rebound performance against Lindenwood Wednesday. Gordon is tied for second on the team in scoring (10.8 ppg) and is second in rebounding (5.6 rpg), sitting third on the team in field goal (50.4%) and second in free throw percentage (80.0%) with 11 games in double figures.
OVC TIMES THREE
Chris Walker earned his third OVC Freshman of the Week honor of the season Monday following another strong performance. Walker averaged 9.0 points and 5.0 rebounds in the pair of games last week, scoring 11 points against UT Martin with seven points and a team-high seven rebounds at Tennessee State. Along with teammate
Ethan Speaker, the duo has captured five of the eight weekly Freshman of the Week accolades this season.
DOUBLE FIGURE TROJANS
10 different Trojans have combined for 55 double figure games this season as
Ante Beljan was the most recent to join the list, scoring 11 in his first career start Wednesday against Lindenwood. Four players are averaging at least 10 points through 16 games, led by
Myron Gardner's 13.9 points per game with
D.J. Smith (10.8),
DeAntoni Gordon (10.8) and
Jordan Jefferson (10.7) also averaging in double figures.
HOME SWEET HOME
Little Rock returns home to the Jack Stephens Center where the Trojans are 161-92 (.639), sitting at 4-1 at home. Little Rock has posted a winning record in 14 of its 17 seasons at the Jack as the Trojans will play on a temporary court for the remainder of the season following flooding from an AC coil break during the recent cold spell. Little Rock's temporary court is the same one used by Gonzaga and Michigan State on the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Armed Forces Classic in San Diego back in November.
SHOW ME SHOWDOWN
Little Rock will face an opponent from the state of Missouri for the second-straight game, posting an all-time record of 16-26 (.381) against foes from its northern neighbor. Little Rock's last win against a team from the Show Me State was the Trojans 67-66 win at Missouri State in Springfield on November 5, 2019 to open its Sun Belt Championship season.
#LittleRocksTeam
