UALR Trojans Beat UAFS Lions in Exhibition

LITTLE ROCK – Sophomore James White recorded his first career double-double and the UALR Trojans (3-4) finished with four players in double figures as the Trojans rolled to an 88-74 win over UAFS (6-0) Tuesday night at the Jack Stephens Center. White scored 11 points and grabbed a career-best 11 boards while totaling two blocks and two steals.

“I thought our guys did a really good job from an energy standpoint tonight,” said head coach Steve Shields. “Josh Newman does a heck of a job with that team. He’s got a team that’s No. 18 in the country (in the NCAA Division II poll) and rightfully so. They’re hard to guard. They shoot the ball extremely well. They get up and down the floor. They’re very efficient.”

UALR’s 45 rebounds on the night were a season high, as were its 17 on the offensive end. White’s 11 led the team, followed by six from sophomore Josh Hagins and five from seniorWill Neighbour. The Trojans dished out 19 assists on 31 made field goals while shooting 47.7 percent from the floor (31 of 65) and 42.9 percent from three-point range (9 of 21).

Kenny Martin scored 15 points on the night to lead UAFS, who will count the game as an exhibition as an NCAA Division II member.

Neighbour recorded his seventh straight double-digit scoring game to start the year, finishing with 20 points on 8-of-12 shooting and 2-of-3 from three-point range. FreshmanMareik Isom scored 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting in 10 minutes off the bench. Hagins tallied 11 thanks in part to a 3-of-5 shooting effort from 3-point range.

Junior DeVonte Smith tallied a season-high nine assists against zero turnovers in 30 minutes of work.

UALR was able to run out to a 45-29 lead at halftime. Four quick points by Neighbour jumpstarted an 11-1 run to start the game for the Trojans. UAFS pulled within one on a 3-pointer by Mytaa’h Crawford at the 11:29 mark, but back-to-back buckets by Leeper pushed the Trojans’ edge back out to six, 20-14.

UALR’s lead again reached double digits when a pair of free throw by White made it 29-18 with just over eight minutes left in the half. The Lions were able to get it back to single digits on a couple of free throws by Trammel White before an 8-0 spurt capped by an Isom jumper gave UALR a 17-point lead with under five minutes in the half.

A trey by Isom at the 3:12 mark put UAL R up 42-24, its first of two 18-point leads in the opening half. Two free throws by sophomore Kemy Osse with 1:13 left put the Trojans up 45-27 before a Martin jumper made it 45-29 heading into intermission.

UAFS began the second half hot from long range, connecting on six 3-pointers before the second media timeout. A trey by Jake Toupal got the Lions within 11, 59-48, at the 13:56 mark, but a trey by Neighbour and layup by senior Leroy Isler stretched UALR’s lead back to 16.

Three players scored in double-figures but that wasn’t enough for UAFS.

It was a brief break from regular-season play for the Lions, who played their second exhibition game of the season. UAFS lost to NCAA Division I Texas Christian University 81-74 on Nov. 1 in Fort Worth, Texas.

UAFS (6-0), which jumped seven spots to No. 18 in the latest NABC/Division II Coaches Top 25, will resume regular-season play at 4 p.m. on Saturday when the Lions play Angelo State in a neutral site game at Collin County Community College in Plano, Texas.

Sophomore Kenny Martin led UAFS with 15 points, while senior guard Jake Toupal and freshman guard Seth Youngblood had 11 and 10 points, respectively. The trio accounted for nine of the Lions’ 11 3-pointers.

UAFS, which trailed 45-29, shot 43 percent from the field (23 for 54) – it was 11-for-31 shooting from 3-point range – and shot 71 percent from the free-throw line (17 for 24).

Junior forward Miha Glavas had a team-high six rebounds for UAFS, which was out-rebounded 45-29.

UALR (3-4) shot 48 percent from the field (31 for 65) – it was 9-for-21 shooting from 3-point range – and shot 71 percent from the free-throw line (17 for 24). Forward Will Neighbour led the Trojans, who led by 25 points with 5:30 left to play, with 20 points. Mareik Isom had 12 points, while James White and Josh Hagins had 11 points apiece.

White topped off his double-double with a team-high 11 rebounds.

The Trojans’ lead reached as high as 25 on a 12-foot bank shot by Neighbour with 5:30 remaining.

All 11 of UALR’s dressed players scored and saw at least 10 minutes of action.

UALR returns to action on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. when they play at Tulsa in the second half of a UALR-Tulsa men’s and women’s doubleheader.