It will be a festive day at the Jack Stephens Center Saturday. The day will be filled with homecoming and senior day activities during both games of the doubleheader. The Trojan men hope they can do their part with a win over Western Illinois (10-18, 4-13).
Tipoff is set for 30 minutes following the women's game that tips at 1 p.m. The women's squad honors its two seniors, Mesi Triplett and Jordan Holman, immediately following their game. The men's seniors,
Jordan Jefferson and
Mwani Wilkinson, will be honored at the 10-minute mark of the pregame of the men's game.
The game can be heard on 106.7 Buz2 with Ray Tucker on the call and can be streamed on ESPN+.
HOMECOMING
The Greek Night festivities that were scheduled for Thursday have been moved to Saturday. Current and former Greeks will gather on the concourse. Distinguished alumni will be honored at halftime of the women's game and the homecoming coronation is slated for halftime of the men's game.
SAYING GOOD-BYE
Jordan Jefferson has been at Little Rock four years and
Mwani Wilkinson just one. But both players have made their marks as their careers wind down and are honored on Saturday.
Jefferson played his 100
th game at the school Thursday night. He has started 57 games and while battling a back injury this season has managed to average 8.9 ppg and 2.1 rpg.
Wilkinson has emerged as a star in his lone season. The LSU transfer is averaging 13.2 points and 7 rebounds per game. He is also averaging 1.4 blocks and 1.8 steals per game.
THE SERIES
Little Rock is 5-1 in the series and has won five consecutive meetings. They are undefeated against the Leathernecks since joining the OVC two seasons ago.
SCOUTING REPORT: WESTERN ILLINOIS
WIU's loss to Little Rock (17-11, 11-6) last month was its fifth in a row. They lost five more after that defeat but have won two of their past three. They beat Southern Indiana and Morehead State last week but lost to Southeast Missouri, 87-66, Thursday night.
Marko Maletic leads the Leathernecks averaging nearly 17 points per game. Ryan Myers chips in 13 ppg and Sean Smith 10.2.
Smith scored 16 points in the loss to Little Rock and Maletic 15. WIU shot just 38% from the field and 22% from the 3-point line in the loss.
