LITTLE ROCK - Little Rock returns to the Jack Stephens Center for the final two games of the year, beginning with a key matchup against fellow Ohio Valley Conference newcomer Southern Indiana Thursday at 7:30 p.m. The game will stream on ESPN+ with Dorian Craft and Patrick Newton on the call while Trojan Hall of Famer Ray Tucker will handle the radio broadcast on 106.7 FM The Buz2, beginning at approximately 7:15 p.m.
GAME STORYLINES
• Little Rock and Southern Indiana meet for the second time in program history as the Screaming Eagles notched a 74-67 win over the Trojans in Evansville on January 12.
DeAntoni Gordon led the way with 20 points while
Myron Gardner posted a double-double.
• Thursday's game will pit the top-two rebounders in the OVC in Little Rock's
Myron Gardner (9.2 rpg) and Southern Indiana's Jacob Polakovich (12.7 rpg). They are also the top-two double-double performers in the league with Gardner leading the way with 14 this season, followed by Polakovich's 11.
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Myron Gardner is tied for seventh nationally with 14 double-doubles on the year as Little Rock leads the OVC with a combined 19 double-doubles as a team. He continues to lead the team in six statistical categories and ranks among the national top-35 in four.
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CJ White has been a constant for the Trojans over the last seven games, leading the team in minutes (37.8), three point percentage (43.8%), rebounds (8.3) and assists (6.0) while sitting second in scoring (15.7) and free throw percentage (81.1%).
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Isaiah Palermo became the eighth different Trojan to lead the team in scoring this season, scoring 19 points at UT Martin Saturday. He ranks second on the team with 27 career double figure games, playing in 98 games in a Trojan uniform.
• Little Rock enters the week tied for the number nine seed in the OVC standings with the top-eight teams qualifying for the tournament in Evansville, Indiana. The Trojans somewhat control their own destiny, having to play the three teams ahead of them in the standings (Southern Indiana, Eastern Illinois in Lindenwood) over the final four games of the year.
NEWS AND NOTES
SCOUTING THE SCREAMING EAGLES
2022-23: 14-13 overall, 7-7 Ohio Valley Conference
Last Three Games: W vs. Lindenwood (74-64), L at Tennessee Tech (84-69), L vs. Morehead State (71-66, OT)
Head Coach: Stan Gouard (Southern Indiana, 1999). Third season at USI (44-26), 15th season overall (272-143)
Key Players:
• #0 Jelani Simmons (Sr., G): 14.2 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 45.6 FG%
• #1 Isaiah Swopes (So., G): 14.2 ppg, 3.5 apg, 44.0 3FG%
• #33 Trevor Lakes (Gr., F): 12.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 43.3 FG%
• #32 Jacob Polakovich (Sr., F): 12.4 ppg, 12.7 rpg, 54.6 FG%
• #3 Tyler Henry (Jr., G): 7.4 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 33.5 FG%
LAST WE MET
DeAntoni Gordon posted 20 points and Little Rock pulled to within one in the waning minutes at Southern Indiana, but couldn't get over the hump, falling 74-67 at Screaming Eagles Arena Gordon's 20 points came on 7-of-14 shooting as he was also 5-of-6 from the free throw line with five rebounds as he was joined in the double-digit club by
Myron Gardner, who finished with 14 points and six rebounds with three assists and a pair of steals.
LAST TIME OUT
A 24-0 UT Martin run in the first half put Little Rock in a hole it couldn't climb out of as the Trojans fall 84-61 to the Skyhwawks at the Elam Center Saturday afternoon. Little Rock was led by 19 points off the bench from
Isaiah Palermo, who went 8-of-14 in 32 minutes off the bench, complemented by 10 points each from
CJ White and
Ethan Speaker as the trio combined for 39 of the Trojans' 61 points.
MR. DO IT ALL
Myron Gardner continues to pace Little Rock this season, leading the Ohio Valley Conference with his 14th double-double of the year against Morehead State last Thursday, scoring 14 points with 14 rebounds. Gardner enters Thursday's game leading Little Rock in scoring (13.3 ppg), rebounding (9.2 rpg), assists (3.6 apg), steals (1.3 spg) and three point percentage (37.8%), ranking second in blocks (0.3 bpg) and minutes (30.2) and third in free throw percentage (74.6%).
CJ COMING UP BIG
CJ White continues to be one of Little Rock's most consistent player in conference play, just missing another double-double against UT Martin with 10 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Over the last seven games, White has ranked third on the team in scoring (15.7 ppg), tied for first in rebounding (8.3 rpg) and is first in assists (6.0 apg) and minutes (37.8 mpg) and second in free throw percentage (81.1%). White enters the week sitting 22nd nationally in assist/turnover ratio at 2.77, sitting at 83 assists to just 30 turnovers.
BIG TIME OFF THE BENCH
Isaiah Palermo was big off the bench for the Trojans at UT Martin, scoring 19 points while making a season-high eight field goals. Palermo led the team in scoring against the Skyhawks, becoming the eighth different Trojan to lead Little Rock in points in a game this season, finishing in double figures for the seventh time this year and the 26th of his Trojan career.
PROVIDING CONSISTENCY
DeAntoni Gordon continues to provide consistency for Little Rock registering 19 double figure game of the year, second most on the team. Gordon has provided consistency inside, ranking second on the team in scoring (12.5 ppg), rebounding (5.6 rpg)Â and free throw percentage (76.3%) while leading the team in minutes per game (30.4) and blocks (14) and is third in field goal percentage (51.3%).
MAKING THE MOST
After seeing no playing time since January 19, freshman
Daniel Egbuniwe made the most of his return to Tennessee, notching a career-high in points (eight), rebounds (five) and minutes (19) against UT Martin. Egbuniwe was 4-for-8 from the floor while also adding an assist against the Skyhawks.
DOUBLE-DOUBLE CLUB
Myron Gardner notched his OVC-best 14th double-double of the year against Morehead State, finishing, fittingly, with 14 points and 14 rebounds. That is tied for seventh nationally as Little Rock has combined for 19 double-doubles this year, including three from
DeAntoni Gordon and a pair from
CJ White, which leads all OVC teams.
DOUBLE FIGURE TROJANS
10 different Trojans have combined for 97 double figure games this season with
Isaiah Palermo (19),
CJ White (10) and
Ethan Speaker (10) accomplishing the feat at UT Martin.
Myron Gardner leads all Trojans with 22 games in double figures this year and 31 for his career, scoring 10 or more points in 73.8% of his games as a Trojan (31-of-42), followed by
DeAntoni Gordon at 68.6% (24-of-35).
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