On a day where shots weren't falling, the Little Rock men's basketball team stayed in the game with Morehead State Thursday afternoon with defense. However, Little Rock couldn't grab a second-half lead and dropped a 59-53 decision.
Thursday marked the third time in four games, Little Rock has held an opponent to 60 points or less.
"When you hold an opponent to under 60 points you should win the game," Trojans head coach
Darrell Walker said. "We have to score more. That is the bottom line. We are holding teams, but we have to put the ball in the basket."
Little Rock held Morehead State to 41.5% shooting and 3-of-19 from the three-point line.
Isaiah Lewis led Little Rock (8-7, 2-2) with 14 points.
Mwani Wilkinson added 12 with 9 rebounds and 3 blocks.
Johnathan Lawson chipped in 11 points and 4 rebounds.
The Eagles' Jerone Morton led all scorers with 17 points.
Little Rock trailed Morehead State (9-7, 4-1) 26-20 at halftime.
Kristiyan Popov's short jumper in the lane cut the lead to 35-34 with 13:28 to play in the game. However, the Eagles inflated the margin to eight with 11:30 to play.
Lewis' jumper made the score 43-38 at the 9:10 mark. However, the Eagles outscored the Trojans 6-0 over the next few minutes to take an 11-point lead, their biggest of the game, with just over five minutes to play.
Little Rock cut the lead to 55-51 on
Ante Beljan's dunk with 1:20 left, but Morehead responded again, hitting four consecutive free throws to ice the game.
"We just have to keep playing and try to get easy baskets with our defense," Wilkinson said. "It will come."
The Trojans are scheduled to play Southern Indiana at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Jack Stephens Center.
