LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The debut of the
Central Arkansas Tip-Off Classic was a resounding success Friday night at the Jack Stephens Center, as
3,161 fans turned out to celebrate the start of basketball season.
The exhibition doubleheader between
Little Rock and
Arkansas-Pine Bluff brought together two in-state programs in front of a lively, large crowd. Fans were treated to performances by both schools' dance teams, the Trojan pep band and the night also featured a special tribute to the
2010-11 NCAA Tournament team — led by none other than
Solomon Bozeman, the Trojans' star that season and now the head coach at UAPB.
The Trojans'
women's team opened the evening with a thrilling
52-50 victory, while the Golden Lions took the men's contest
77-69.
Announced in September as a collaborative effort between the two programs, the Central Arkansas Tip-Off Classic is designed to promote college basketball in the region — and after Friday's atmosphere, it's clear this will become a
can't-miss annual event. The crowd of more than 3,000 marked the
one of the larger crowds in recent seasons for Little Rock basketball.
Graduate student
Jordan Holman led all scorers and came up clutch down the stretch for the Trojans in the women's game. Her three-pointer with 5:16 remaining gave Little Rock a 48-47 lead, and a free throw minutes later extended it to two. With just over two minutes left, UAPB pulled within one, but on the Trojans' final possession,
Brenna Burk chased down a tipped ball in the backcourt, raced ahead, drew a foul, and sank a free throw to seal the victory.
In the men's matchup,
Tuongthach Gatkek led Little Rock with 18 points and six rebounds, while
Cameron Wallace added 14 points and
Khasen Robinson chipped in 11. The Trojans made a strong push in the second half after trailing by double digits at halftime but ultimately came up short.
Little Rock's men will host
Arkansas Tech in an exhibition at
7 p.m. Tuesday, October 28, while the
women open their regular season at
7 p.m. Monday, November 3 against
Central Baptist College. The men tip off their regular season the following night against
Arkansas Baptist College.
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Tickets and Season Packages:
Visit
lrtrojans.com or call the Trojan Ticket Office at
501-916-3257 to purchase single-game or season tickets.
