After 11 nonconference games, the Little Rock men's basketball team (6-5) begins a two-game home set to open Ohio Valley Conference play Thursday night. The Trojans play SIU-Edwardsville (7-4) at 7 p.m. (Following the 5 p.m. women's game) at the Jack Stephens Center. The game can be heard on 106.7 Buz2 with the pregame beginning at 6:45 Longtime play-by-play voice Ray Tucker is on the call with former Trojan player Jason Lanier providing commentary. The game will also stream on ESPN+ with the broadcast team of Dorian Craft and Patrick Newton on the call.
In between games, the 2024 Ohio Valley Conference title banner will be revealed. Little Rock head coach
Darrell Walker and the Trojans recorded a 14-4 OVC record last season. Current Trojans that played on last year's team are:
KK Robinson,
Jordan Jefferson,
Creed Williamson,
Nikola Milosevic,
Kristiyan Popov and
Ante Beljan.
LAST TIME OUT
The Trojans couldn't hold on against UIC in the final nonconference game of the season Sunday in a 77-69 overtime loss at the Jack Stephens Center. The Flames tied the game on three free throws late, and then took an early lead in OT and Little Rock couldn't get any closer than four.
Johnathan Lawson led all scorers with 25 points. He also chipped in 8 rebounds and 2 assists.
Isaiah Lewis added 11 points and
Tuongthach Gatkek scored 10 points and snagged 10 rebounds.
STREAKIN'
Little Rock enters OVC play on a nine-game, regular-season league winning streak. Its last loss came on Feb. 1 at SIUE, 68-66.
INJURY BUG
The Trojans have limped along through the nonconference season without the services of key players. Robinson sustained a knee injury before the season and Jefferson has been in out of the lineup with a back issue and Williamson has been out since late last month with a foot injury.
THE SERIES
The Trojans had never played SIUE until 2023 when they entered the Ohio Valley Conference. The teams have split a pair of games each season. Interestingly, both teams have won a road game in the series. Little Rock won 88-80 at home last season and dropped a 68-66 loss at SIUE. All four games have been competitive being decided by eight points or less.
FIRST LOOK: SIUE
The Cougars had an up-and-down nonconference slate but finished on a high note beating Ball State 82-69 and Division III Eureka 100-52. SIUE was unbeaten against MAC teams knocking off Ball State along with Western Michigan. The Cougars also beat Missouri Valley Conference member Indiana State. They lost big to Green Bay and Big 10 powers Indiana and Illinois.
SIUE, who 2-3 on the road this season, is led by graduate student guard Ray'Sean Taylor. Taylor injured his knee before his freshman season and didn't play but came back healthy the following season and has played the past three years. Taylor, who is averaging over 17 points per game, entered the season ranked fifth all time in school history in scoring with 1,314 points. He also ranked third among Division I players. Brian Taylor is averaging 11.7 ppg and Ring Mallith 10.5.
The Cougars are holding opponents to just under 40% shooting while making 43% of their shots per game. They average 76.5 ppg while giving up 66.5
