Trojans host Eastern Illinois on Saturday for OVC clash

The Little Rock men's basketball team will try to put together consecutive conference wins Saturday when the Trojans host Eastern Illinois at the Jack Stephens Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 pm and can be streamed on ESPN+ or heard locally on 106.7 FM The Buz2.
 
Little Rock (8-8, 2-1 OVC) established its largest lead of the season (19) during Thursday's 88-80 home win over SIUE and KK Robinson posted just the second triple-double in program history, finishing the game with 18 points, 10 rebounds, and a career-high 12 assists. Robinson's triple-double is the 24^th in OVC history. DeAntoni Gordon scored a game-high 19 points and Jamar Chaplin added 18 on 7-of-10 shooting.
 
Eastern Illinois (7-8, 1-1 OVC) evened its conference record Thursday with a 79-74 win at UT Martin. Tiger Booker scored a season-high 21 points and Corey Sawyer Jr. reached a season-high with 20 points. Kooper Jacobi leads the Panthers in scoring (10.9) and rebounding (8.1) this season. The Panthers rank second in the OVC in scoring defense (65.4) and first in turnover margin (+2.8).
 
The Trojans and Panthers have met four times overall with each team winning twice at home. The most recent meeting had Little Rock winning 81-77 in overtime on Feb. 18, 2023. Prior to last year's two conference games, the schools previously met twice during the 1976-77 season.
 
Following Saturday's game, the Trojans will be on the road for their next two contest – at UT Martin on Jan. 13 and at Southern Indiana on Jan. 18.