EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The Little Rock men's basketball team begins an important road swing Thursday night at Southern Indiana (9-13, 5-8). The Trojans (14-9, 8-4) sit a half game behind second-place SIUE and two games behind Morehead State, who they play Saturday.
Thursday's game tips 25 minutes following the women's game which is scheduled for 5 p.m. Trey Schaap has the radio call on 106.7 Buz2, and the game will also be streamed on ESPN+.
LAST TIME OUT
The Trojans outscored UT Martin (9-14, 5-7) 39 to 21 on their way to a 75-57 win Saturday night.
Senior forward
Tuongthach Gatkek, a 6-foot-9, 187-pounder, was 9-of-10 (90%) from the field and hit both of his free throws to record a 20-point night. The 20 points was a career high for the Florida/Texas State transfer, who also snagged 12 rebounds and totaled 5 assists, 2 blocks and 2 steals.
Mwani Wilkinson added 16 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks and 3 steals.
Johnathan Lawson chipped in 14 points and 5 rebounds and
Jordan Jefferson added 11 points and 4 steals in just 24 minutes of action.
TOUNED UP
Tougnthach Gatkek had a shooting night only few in school history have enjoyed in Saturday evening's win over UT Martin.
The 90% shooting clip is among the tops in the school history. Derrick Owens owns the highest field-goal shooting mark hitting 14-of-15 (93%) shots against Centenary on March 8, 1990.
ELITE DEFENSE
Little Rock ranks No. 7 in the nation in field goal percentage defense and No. 12 in the nation in blocks. Trojan opponents are only shooting 37%. Tennessee lead the nation with 36%. Little Rock is also averaging 5.4 blocks per game. The Trojans are just .2 blocks away from the Top 5.
IRON MAN
Junior transfer guard
Johnathan Lawson is averaging 36.6 minutes per game. That is good for No. 7 in the nation. Lawson is averaging is 15.3 ppg, 5.4 rpg and 3.6 apg.
SERIES HISTORY
Little Rock is 3-2 against USI in the five meetings the teams have had in the two years the Trojans joined the OVC. Little Rock has won the past three meetings and is 1-1 at USI.
SCOUTING REPORT: USI
The Screaming Eagles are 3-3 since losing by 20 points at Little Rock last month. While USI has lost its past two games, they have battled the OVC's elite. After winning two straight, they lost 82-76 to second-place SIUE on Jan. 23 on the road. They only lost to league leader Morehead State, 66-65, at Morehead, Kent., last Tuesday. That loss was followed by a 78-65 home defeat to Tennessee Tech.
Junior guard Damoni Harrison (6-5, 180) leads the team in scoring with 14.5 ppg. Classmate Jayland Randall (6-5, 180) is right behind at 14.4 ppg. Sophomore big man Stephen Olowoniyi (6-8, 200) leads the team in rebounds with 6.6 per game and chips in 13.7 ppg. However, after that trio there are no other players close to double digits.
