LITTLE ROCK - Little Rock concludes its challenging three-game road trip, heading to Cape Girardeau, Missouri, for a showdown with OVC co-leaders Southeast Missouri Thursday. Opening tip against the Redhawks is slated for 7 p.m. at the Show Me Center and will stream live on ESPN+. Trojan Hall of Famer Ray Tucker will handle the radio call on 106.7 FM The Buz2, beginning 15 minutes before opening tip.
GAME STORYLINES
• Little Rock and Southeast Missouri meet for the sixth time with the Trojans holding a 3-2 edge in the all-time series. The Trojans are 1-1 all-time in Cape Girardeau, winning 83-74 in its last trip on November 27, 2001.
• Southeast Missouri took the first meeting between the two teams this season, holding off a late Little Rock rally to defeat the Trojans 74-68 on January 7 at the Jack Stephens Center.
Myron Gardner led the way for the Trojans with a 12-point, 12-rebound double-double.
• Thursday's game marks the third-straight game the Trojans will play against an OVC co-leader as the Redhawks are tied for first in the league standings at 7-3.
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Myron Gardner enters Thursday's game among the top-35 nationally in four statistical categories. Gardner is tied for 10th in the nation with an OVC-best 11 double-doubles as Little Rock leads the conference with 16 total double-doubles this season.
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CJ White tallied his second double-double of the season at Tennessee Tech, finishing with 13 points and a career-high 11 assists.
DeAntoni Gordon just missed his fourth of the year, finishing with a career-high 25 points with nine rebounds.
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DeAntoni Gordon (25 pts.) and
Myron Gardner (21 pts.) both surpassed the 20-point plateau at Tennessee Tech Saturday. It was the second time this season a pair of Trojans have scored 20 or more points in a game, joining
CJ White (21) and
D.J. Smith (20) against Tennessee State on January 21.
• Little Rock is seeking its first win in the state of Missouri since the 67-66 win at Missouri State on November 5, 2019. The Trojans are 4-8 (.333) all-time in the Show Me state.
NEWS AND NOTES
SCOUTING THE REDHAWKS
2022-23: 12-11 overall, 7-3 Ohio Valley Conference
Last Three Games: W at Eastern Illinois (79-68), W vs. Tennessee State (92-75), W vs. Tennessee Tech (84-77, 2OT)
Head Coach: Brad Korn (Southern Illinois, 2004). Third season at SEMO and overall (47-35)
Key Players:
• #1 Phillip Russell (So., G): 17.9 ppg, 5.0 apg, 41.7 FG%
• #5 Chris Harris (R-Sr., G): 13.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 36.9 FG%
• #0 Israel Barnes (R-Sr., G): 10.6 ppg 3.1 rpg, 42.3 FG%
• #21 Josh Earley (Jr., F): 8.1 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 54.9 FG%
• #24 Kobe Clark (So., F): 6.6 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 37.1 FG%
LAST WE MET
After trailing by as many as 11, Little Rock pulled to within one with two minutes to go against Southeast Missouri, but couldn't get shots to fall down the stretch as the Trojans fell to the Redhawks 74-68 at the Jack Stephens Center on January 7. The loss came despite four different Trojans scoring in double figures, led by 14 points from
D.J. Smith with five assists.
Myron Gardner finished with 12 points and 12 rebounds for his 10th double-double of the season while adding a pair of assists.
LAST TIME OUT
Little Rock used a 23-0 run in the first half to take control, then held off a late Tennessee Tech rally to earn a hard-fought 91-89 victory over the OVC co-leaders at the Eblen Center Saturday afternoon. Little Rock was led by a pair of 20-point performers, including
DeAntoni Gordon setting a new career-high with 25 points and just missing his fourth double-double, adding nine rebounds.
Myron Gardner notched his fourth 20+ point game of the year, finishing with 21 on 7-of-13 shooting, with seven rebounds and four assists as well as a steal and a block.
MR. DO IT ALL
Myron Gardner continues to pace Little Rock this season, leading the Ohio Valley Conference with his 11th double-double of the year at Morehead State Thursday. Gardner enters Saturday's game leading Little Rock in scoring (13.7 ppg), rebounding (9.2 rpg), assists (3.6 apg), steals (1.5 spg) and minutes (30.7 mpg), leading the team in three point (39.7%) and third in qualifying free throw percentage (76.4%).
CJ COMING UP BIG
CJ White continues to be a key factor in conference play, notching his second double-double of the year with 13 points and a career-high 11 assists in the win at Tennessee Tech. Over the last six games, White ranks third on the team in both scoring (10.2 ppg) and rebounding (6.7 rpg) while leading the team in assists (5.2 apg). The graduate student is also making his mark on the national stage, entering the weekend ninth in the NCAA in assist/turnover ratio at 3.10.
PROVIDING CONSISTENCY
DeAntoni Gordon scored a career-high 25 points in the win at Tennessee Tech, the second-most in a game by a Trojan this year. Gordon ranks second on the team in scoring (12.2 ppg), rebounding (5.6 rpg) and qualifying free throw percentage (76.6%) while leading the team in blocks (10) and is third in field goal percentage (51.6%).
DOUBLE-DOUBLE CLUB
CJ White registered his second double-double of the year Saturday at Tennessee Tech, finishing with 13 points and a career-high 11 assists.
Myron Gardner has 11 on the year for Little Rock, the most in the OVC and tied for 10th nationally, while
DeAntoni Gordon has three, giving the Trojans an OVC-best 16 double-double performances this season.
EFFICIENT FROM THE LINE
Isaiah Palermo had his consecutive free throw streak snapped at 19 at Tennessee Tech Saturday, the longest of the year for Little Rock. Since January 7, Palermo has made 21-of-24 (87.5%) and currently sits eight in the OVC in free throw percentage in league games at 80.8% (21-of-26).
DOUBLE FIGURE TROJANS
10 different Trojans have combined for 80 double figure games this season with four different Trojans reaching the mark at Tennessee Tech Saturday.
Myron Gardner leads all Trojans with 19 games in double figures this year and 28 for his career, scoring 10 or more points in 73.7% of his games as a Trojan (28-of-38).
OFFENSIVE SPURTS
Little Rock used a 23-0 run in the first half at Tennessee Tech to build a lead and help propel the Trojans to the win. It was the largest run of the year for Little Rock, besting the 14-0 run against Tennessee State on January 21 at the Jack Stephens Center, and the most since a similar 23-0 run against Champion Christian on December 18, 2020.
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