MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Little Rock fell to West Virginia 90-58 on Tuesday night at Hope Coliseum. Little Rock managed 58 points with 34 coming from the bench, but West Virginia's dominant shooting, including 15 three-pointers, secured the victory. Little Rock recorded 11 assists and seven steals but was unable to overcome West Virginia's 42 total rebounds.
In the first half, Little Rock opened with strong defense, forcing four steals and creating opportunities in transition.
Caleb Pennyfeather's layup at 18:28, assisted by
Christian Hughes, marked their initial score. Despite these efforts, Little Rock found themselves trailing as West Virginia executed efficiently from beyond the arc, converting eight 3-pointers throughout the half.
"West Virginia is a great team and shot the ball very well tonight," Little Rock head coach
Darrell Walker said. "Our guys battled and played hard. We'll come home, get some rest, and prepare for two big conference games next week. Those games are very important, and I know we'll be ready to play."
Little Rock showed resilience on the boards, securing seven offensive rebounds that led to second-chance points.
Johnathan Lawson, contributing significantly, added a 3-pointer at 3:58 to narrow the gap momentarily. However, West Virginia's consistent scoring runs, along with a late 3-pointer by Treysen Eaglestaff, extended their lead. The half ended with Little Rock trailing 47–23.
The second half saw Little Rock making a concerted effort to close the gap, with Pennyfeather and
Cameron Wallace contributing key points early on. Despite determined offensive plays, including a notable three-pointer from Lawson, Little Rock faced a formidable challenge as West Virginia maintained their scoring momentum. Wallace's late 3-point play at 10:19 briefly energized the visitors, highlighting his season-high performance. However, consistent scores from West Virginia, including multiple 3-pointers, kept the home team firmly ahead.
As the half wound down, Little Rock managed to string together several successful plays, with Tracy Steele Jr. hitting back-to-back three-pointers in the final minutes. Even with these efforts, the half concluded with West Virginia extending their lead, ending the second half with a 90–58 advantage over Little Rock.
Wallace led the team with a season-high 23 points, converting 8 of 19 field goals and 6 of 8 free throws, while also collecting nine rebounds. Lawson added 11 points, including two 3-pointers, and recorded three assists.
Braxton Bayless contributed defensively with three steals and added six points. Pennyfeather finished with six points and five rebounds, providing a strong presence on the boards.
The Trojans begin Ohio Valley Conference play Tuesday, Dec. 16 at Morehead State. Tip time is 6:30 p.m. CST.
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