LITTLE ROCK – After falling behind early, Little Rock pulled to within one in the waning moments against Southeast Missouri. But the Trojans couldn't get shots to fall down the stretch as the Trojans fell to the Redhawks 74-68 at the Jack Stephens Center.
The loss came despite four different Trojans scoring in double figures, led by 14 points from
D.J. Smith with five assists.
Myron Gardner registered his Ohio Valley Conference-best 10th double-double, finishing with 12 points and 12 rebounds, while adding a pair of assists himself.
Little Rock was provided with a spark off the bench by
CJ White and
Isaiah Palermo as the duo combined for 23 points, shooting 7-of-12 from the floor. Palermo had a season-high 13 points on 3-of-5 shooting and was 7-of-8 from the free throw line, adding two assists and tying his career high with four steals. White finished with 10 points, including a pair of key three pointers in the second half, adding a team-high five assists with seven rebounds.
DeAntoni Gordon added nine points and five rebounds with a pair of assists, steals and blocks.
Chris Walker also scored six off the bench.
For the game, the Trojans shot 43.9% from the floor (25-of-57) and shot a season-high 57.1% from three point range, making 8-of-14, while going 10-for-12 from the free throw line (83.3%). The Trojans held Southeast Missouri to 43.9% from the floor and 23.1% from beyond the arc as the Redhawks hit just six of 26 attempts.
17 Little Rock turnovers also limited the Trojan chances as the Trojans were outrebounded 39-35, including 14-8 on the offensive glass. SEMO also dominated in the paint, outscoring Little Rock 42-22.
Southeast Missouri raced out to an early 11-5 lead, paced by a 6-0 run, but the Trojans responded with an 8-0 run of its own, including four each for Smith and John, as Little Rock took its first lead at 13-11 with 11:27 remaining in the opening half.
Both teams then struggled on the floor as Southeast Missouri made just one of 10 field goals over a four-minute span, but Little Rock committed five turnovers, as a Redhawk three pointer gave them the 14-13 lead. That three sparked a 9-0 run as SEMO built 20-13 lead at the seven minute mark, handing the Trojans a nearly six-minute scoring drought.
Trojan miscues helped SEMO extend its lead to as many as 11 at 28-17 as Little Rock was held to just two field goals over a nine-minute span. But the Trojans began to find its scoring touch, outscoring the Redhawks 14-6 over the final three minutes, including a pair of threes from Smith and seven points from Gordon to pull to within three at the half at 36-33.
Little Rock shot 46.7% over the opening 20 minutes, hitting 14-of-30 from the floor, and was 3-for-4 from beyond the arc. SEMO shot 40.5% from the floor and was just 2-for-15 from three (13.3%), but benefitted from 11 Little Rock turnovers and the extended Trojan scoring drought.
Little Rock and Southeast Missouri exchanged baskets early in the second half, fluctuating between a three-and six-point lead for the Redhawks for the first six minutes. A three from Walker pulled the Trojans to within three at 48-45 with 15:09 remaining, before back-to-back baskets for the Redhawks pushed SEMO's lead back to eight at 53-45.
Southeast Missouri pushed its lead to nine at 64-55 with 6:20 remaining, but it sparked a 7-0 Little Rock run to pull to within two at 64-62. Gardner had five points in the run, giving him his 10th double-double of the year. After a Redhawk jumper pushed the lead back to four, Walker drilled a three to pull Little Rock within one at 66-65 with 4:32 remaining.
Trailing 69-65, White hit a three with 2:22 remaining, cutting the Redhawk lead to one at 69-68. But the Trojans were unable to get another shot to fall and SEMO took advantage at the free throw line to hand the Trojans the 74-68 defeat.
Southeast Missouri had three players in double figures, led by 19 from Dylan Branson and 16 each for Chris Harris and Phillip Russell.
Little Rock now gets ready for a key road stretch, traveling to Indiana and Illinois for its first true OVC road swing. The Trojans will face fellow conference newcomer Southern Indiana on Thursday, January 12 in Evansville, tipping at 8 p.m. on ESPNU.
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