Trojans Basketball Opens SBC Tournament Against No. 4 FIU on Saturday at 6 PM

Courtesy University of Arkansas at Little Rock Athletics Department

GM32 // No. 5 UALR (17-14, 11-9 SBC) vs. No. 4 FIU (16-13, 11-9 SBC)

 

Saturday, March 9, 2013 • 6 PM (CST)

Hot Springs, Ark. • Summit Arena (Convention Center Court)

Radio: KABZ – 103.7 FM

Online Radio: 1037TheBuzz.com

Radio Talent: Ray Tucker (PXP) & Pat Bradley (Analyst)

Live Video: SunBeltSports.org

Live Stats: SunBeltSports.org

 

Series (Overall): UALR leads, 17-9

Series (SBC Tournament): FIU leads, 1-0

Current Streak: FIU, 1 win

Last Meeting: 2/21/13 – FIU, 65-52

Shields Record vs. FIU: 10-6

 

UALR Trojans

2012-13 Record: 17-14

SBC Record: 11-9

Head Coach: Steve Shields (10th year)

Record at UALR: 164-142

Career Record: Same

 

UALR Statistical Leaders

Points: Will Neighbour (10.8)

Rebounds: Will Neighbour (6.9)

Assists: Josh Hagins (3.1)

Steals: Leroy Isler (1.4)

Blocks: Michael Javes (1.2)

 

FIU Panthers

2012-13 Record: 16-13

SBC Record: 11-9

Head Coach: Richard Pitino (1st year)

Record at FIU: 16-13

Career Record: Same

 

FIU Statistical Leaders

Points: Tymell Murphy (15.1)

Rebounds: Tymell Murphy (6.9)

Assists: Deric Hill (3.0)

Steals: Deric Hill (2.2)

Blocks: Tymell Murphy (1.1)

 

Quick Hits

• UALR is 20-20 all-time in games played in the Sun Belt Conference tournament. The Trojans’ best finish came in 2011, when they topped North Texas in the title game to earn their first NCAA Tournament bid since 1990.

• UALR split its two meetings against FIU this season, winning 88-76 in Little Rock (1/12/13) before falling by a 65-52 final in Miami (2/21/13). UALR leads 17-9 in the all-time series.

• The Trojans’ 13-3 record at home this season tied the 2007-08 UALR team’s record for most home victories since the Jack Stephens Center opened in 2005-06. The Trojans are 105-43 at home since Shields took over in 2003.

• In terms of minutes played by class, UALR is the least-experienced team in the nation. Nine of UALR’s top 11 players (by minutes played) are freshmen and sophomores.

• UALR is 16-2 on the season when finishing with a higher FG% than its opponent.

• UALR is 15-3 on the season when holding opponents under 70 points and 2-11 when surrendering 70 or more.

• Under Shields, UALR is 142-56 when holding opponents below 70 points and 84-20 when keeping opponents under 40 percent shooting from the field.

• Shields is second among active coaches in career SBC wins (92). Middle Tennessee’s Kermit Davis (117) ranks first.

• Junior Will Neighbour was named Third Team All-Sun Belt on Wednesday. Neighbour leads UALR in scoring (10.8 ppg) and rebounding (6.9 rpg), while his 7.7 boards per game in league games rank fifth in the Sun Belt.

• Sophomore Michael Javes sits in sole possession of sixth place on UALR’s all-time blocks list. Javes now has 80 blocks in 61 career games, and is ten shy of tying Tony Chime (1991-95) for fifth place.

• Freshman Josh Hagins averaged 9.7 points, 3.3 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 47.3 percent from the floor in conference games this season.

 

Team Notes

• UALR’s win against Arkansas State on Saturday, March 2 gave the Trojans a 13-3 home record for the season, tying it with the 2007-08 UALR team for the most wins at the Jack Stephens Center since the building opened in 2005-06.

• UALR currently ranks sixth in the Sun Belt Conference in offensive field goal percentage (42.5 percent) and fourth in three-point field goal percentage (34.3 percent).

• The Trojans rank sixth in the conference in defensive field goal percentage (42.1 percent) and fourth in defensive three-point field goal percentage (32.9 percent).

• Other current UALR ranks amongst SBC teams: third in assists (11.8 apg), fifth in assist-to-turnover ratio (0.8), fourth in blocks (3.8 bpg), seventh in steals (6.7 spg) and fifth in turnover margin (+1.1).

• UALR put five players in double figures vs. Louisiana (2/28/13) and is 6-0 on the season when at least four Trojans finish in double figures.

• The Trojans have won six games this season after trailing at halftime.

• UALR has finished even or better in points-in-the-paint in 13 of its last 17 games.

• UALR (17-14) has surpassed its season total for wins (15) from all of last season.

• In games won this season, UALR is averaging 14.2 assists per game, compared to 9.1 apg in its losses.

• The Trojans are averaging nearly four fewer turnovers per game in wins this season (13.3) than in losses (17.2).

• UALR is 13-1 this season when outscoring its opponent at the FT line.

• UALR is 16-2 on the season when finishing with a higher FG% than its opponent.

• UALR is 15-4 when shooting 40 percent or better from the floor.

• UALR is 7-1 when hitting more three-pointers than its opponent.

• UALR’s 34 defensive rebounds vs. Louisiana (2/28/13) were a new season high.

 

Individual Notes

• Junior Will Neighbour has led or tied for the team lead in rebounding in 15 of the last 18 games.

• Neighbour recorded his seventh career double-double (17 points, 11 rebounds) and tied his career high of three blocks vs. Louisiana on Thursday, Feb. 28.

• Freshman John Gillon scored a career-high 24 points on 15-of-18 shooting from the foul line to help UALR top Arkansas State on Saturday, March 2.

• Gillon is averaging 13.0 points and is shooting 48.7 percent from the floor over his last five games.

• Gillon leads all SBC freshmen and ranks third overall in the conference in three-point shooting percentage (40.0 percent).

• Gillon also ranks fourth overall in FT shooting percentage (80.0 percent).

• Gillon’s 15 made free throws vs. Arkansas State (3/2/13) set a new Jack Stephens Center record.

• Sophomore Ben Dillard is shooting 45.9 percent from three-point range in Sun Belt games.

• Junior Leroy Isler is averaging 12.3 points and 5.3 rebounds while shooting 48.1 percent from the floor and 90.0 percent from the FT line over his last three games.

• Freshman Josh Hagins tied his career highs in points (14) and rebounds (7) while going 5-of-6 from the floor against Louisiana on Thursday, Feb. 28. UALR is now 4-0 when Hagins grabs 5+ rebounds.

• Hagins dished out seven assists vs. Arkansas State (3/2/13), one shy of his career high. UALR is 5-1 when Hagins hands out 5+ assists.

• Hagins has made at least one three pointer in 14 of his last 17 games.

 

Last Time Out

• Trailing 50-40 with less than 13 minutes to play, UALR used a 16-0 run to take its first lead of the game and never looked back, as the Trojans capped their regular season with a 78-71 win over Arkansas State on Saturday, March 2 at the Jack Stephens Center.

• After allowing ASU to shoot 50 percent in the first half and take a three-point lead into the locker room, UALR limited the Red Wolves to just 9-of-25 shooting in the second half (36.0 percent).

• UALR knocked down 46.4 percent of its shots in the second half and hit 16-of-20 free throws (80.0 percent) over the final 20 minutes.

• The Trojans finished the game shooting 82.9 percent from the foul line (29-of-35), while ASU hit just 64.5 percent (20-of-31) of its foul shots.

• In a game that featured 59 fouls and seven technical fouls, UALR was outrebounded 34-to-28, but finished with a 24-to-6 edge in points-in-the-paint and an 18-to-8 lead in points off turnovers. The Trojans committed just ten turnovers while forcing the Red Wolves into 16 on the night.

• Gillon led UALR with a career-high 24 points on a 15-of-18 effort at the foul line. Gillon’s 15 made free throws set a new Jack Stephens Center record, breaking John Fowler’s (2007-09) record of 13 set against ULM on Dec. 31, 2008.

• Isler was the only other Trojan in double figures, finishing with 13 on 5-of-9 shooting from the floor. Sophomore Michael Javes chipped in nine points in 20 minutes of work.

 

About FIU

• FIU finished the regular season with an overall record of 16-13 and an 11-9 mark in Sun Belt play. The Panthers played no neutral court games and finished the season 6-10 in road games.

• The Panthers are led by First Team All-Sun Belt selection Tymell Murphy, who leads FIU in scoring (15.1 ppg), rebounding (6.9 bpg) and blocked shots (1.1 bpg). Malik Smith (13.7 ppg) and Jerome Frink (10.4 ppg) give the Panthers three players averaging double figures in scoring.

• FIU finished the regular season ranked third in Sun Belt in scoring offense (69.6 ppg) and ninth in scoring defense (70.1 ppg). The Panthers rank second in offensive field goal percentage (43.0 percent) and lead the league with 9.6 steals per game.

• Head coach Richard Pitino is in his first year with the Panthers.

 

About FIU

• FIU finished the regular season with an overall record of 16-13 and an 11-9 mark in Sun Belt play. The Panthers played no neutral court games and finished the season 6-10 in road games.

• The Panthers are led by First Team All-Sun Belt selection Tymell Murphy, who leads FIU in scoring (15.1 ppg), rebounding (6.9 bpg) and blocked shots (1.1 bpg). Malik Smith (13.7 ppg) and Jerome Frink (10.4 ppg) give the Panthers three players averaging double figures in scoring.

• FIU finished the regular season ranked third in Sun Belt in scoring offense (69.6 ppg) and ninth in scoring defense (70.1 ppg). The Panthers rank second in offensive field goal percentage (43.0 percent) and lead the league with 9.6 steals per game.

• Head coach Richard Pitino is in his first year with the Panthers.

 

All-Time Against the Panthers

• UALR holds a 19-7 edge in the all-time series with FIU. The two teams split their regular season series, with UALR winning 88-76 in Little Rock and FIU earning a 65-52 win in Miami.

• FIU won the only SBC Tournament meeting between the two teams, winning 69-64 in the 2005 SBC Tournament.

• Head coach Steve Shields is 10-6 all-time against FIU.

 

Tale of Two Games

• UALR and FIU have played twice this season, with the Trojans playing one of their best games of the season in their win in Little Rock, and one their worst in FIU’s victory in Miami.

• In the Trojans’ 88-76 win in Little Rock on Jan. 12, UALR finished with five players in double figures and set or equaled season highs in field goal percentage (59.2 percent), assists (21), made free throws (24) and free throw percentage (85.7 percent, 24-of-28).

• It was UALR’s second-best scoring night of the season, trailing only the 91 points it scored against St. Gregory’s on Dec. 4. Its 51 first-half points against the Panthers were the most UALR has scored in a single half all season.

• In UALR’s 65-52 loss in Miami on Feb. 21, it shot just 39.3 percent from the floor and a season-low 9.1 percent from three-point range. The Trojans’ two made three-point field goals matched a season low, and their 52 points scored were just two off their season low (50, at Middle Tennessee).

• The one constant for UALR in both games has been turnovers. UALR committed 21 and 22, respectively, in its two games against the Panthers.

Tags: , , ,