EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. — Little Rock delivered one of its most resilient performances of the season Thursday night, storming back from an eight-point halftime deficit to defeat SIUE 73–70 at First Community Arena.
The Trojans improved to 6–10 overall and 3–2 in OVC play, outscoring SIUE 41–30 in the second half while leaning on aggressive defense that forced 16 turnovers and produced 11 steals. SIUE slipped to 10–7 overall and 3–3 in league action.
"This was a big win for us," Little Rock head coach
Darrell Walker said. "We played well enough to beat Tennessee State last week but didn't finish the game. Tonight, we responded, made the plays we needed late, and I'm very proud of our effort and poise down the stretch."
The game flipped immediately after intermission.
Little Rock opened the second half with relentless pressure, capitalizing on SIUE miscues and attacking the rim.
Kachi Nzeh and
Cameron Wallace finished inside as the Trojans erased the deficit, while
Johnathan Lawson, who poured in a game-high 23 points steadied the offense at the free-throw line. The Trojans' defense tightened, limiting clean looks and forcing difficult shots.
Midway through the half,
Braxton Bayless sparked the break with a fast-break layup, and
Tuongthach Gatkek brought the Trojans to their feet with a powerful dunk. Gatkek later delivered a decisive slam with 2:32 remaining to give Little Rock the lead for good.
Down the stretch, Little Rock's composure proved decisive. Lawson knocked down critical free throws as the Trojans went 11-of-18 at the line for the game, while the defense forced late turnovers and secured key rebounds. SIUE made a final push, but Little Rock closed the door to complete the comeback.
"We never panicked, even when we were down. We just kept playing hard," Lawson said. "We knew if we stayed focused and kept playing hard, we would eventually get back in it."
Little Rock finished with 13 points off turnovers, nine offensive rebounds, and 18 total rebounds in the second half, turning defense and effort into a statement road win.
Little Rock set an early physical tone, attacking the paint and scoring 16 points inside in the first half. Nzeh and Lawson led the charge, with Lawson also facilitating offense and converting key free throws. Wallace made his presence felt on the glass, pulling down multiple offensive rebounds to extend possessions.
SIUE countered with perimeter shooting, knocking down seven first-half three-pointers to build separation. Despite Little Rock forcing nine turnovers and recording seven steals before the break, the Cougars carried a 40–32 lead into halftime, fueled in part by 19 bench points.
The Trojans will look to build on the momentum as they travel back across the river to play Lindenwood at 3:30 p.m., on Saturday.
"We're going to try to get some rest and be ready for a very good Lindenwood team on Saturday," Walker said. "They'll be ready for us, so we need to keep playing with the focus and effort we've shown."
