Trojans Upset League Champion Louisiana in OT, 72-61

[Seminole Indian]

LAFAYETTE, La. – As the regular season wrapped up, Little Rock was hoping to make some noise heading into the Sun Belt tournament in New Orleans.

They did so in a major way.

Little Rock, who clinched the number 12 seed in the tournament Thursday evening, overcame a 10-point second half deficit to knock off off regular season champion Louisiana in the Cajundome 72-61 in overtime. The win pushes the Trojans to 7-24 on the year and 4-14 in Sun Belt play, spoiling Louisiana's bid for a perfect home season.

Four Trojans scored in double figures to lead the way for Little Rock, led by a career night for Ryan Pippins, who finished with 19 points and a pair of rebounds. Pippins was 6-of-10 from the floor and a perfect 4-for-4 from three-point range, hitting three of his four free throws as well.

Oliver Black registered his first career double-double, finishing with a career-best 17 points and 11 rebounds, marking his fourth double-digit rebound effort of the season. Black went 7-of-13 from the floor and made three of his four free throws in overtime, helping to seal the victory.

Kris Bankston tied his career-high with 14 points, adding six rebounds and three blocks on the night. Bankston was nearly perfect from the floor, going 6-for-7, including a pair of thunderous dunks in the second half and overtime to help energize the Trojan rally.

As a team, Little Rock shot 44.3 percent from the floor, hitting 27 of its 61 shots, while holding Louisiana to just 33.3 percent from the field (19-of-57). Both teams hit six three-pointers, but the Trojans were much more efficient, taking just 13 attempts (46.2 percent) compared to 31 for the Ragin' Cajuns (19.4 percent).

When all was said and done, the Trojans held the Ragin' Cajuns to just 61 total points, tied for their second-lowest point output of the season, as Louisiana finished nearly 24 points below their season scoring average of 84.8 ppg.

The first half began in similar fashion to Little Rock's game at ULM Thursday as the two teams locked into a defensive battle early. The two teams combined for two ties and five lead changes, although Louisiana looked poised to take control late in the half, building an 18-10 lead with 5:21 remaining.

But the Trojans rattled off 12-straight points, sparked by six from Jaizec Lottie, building a 22-18 lead with 1:10 to go in the opening half. Little Rock led 23-20 with less than 30 seconds remaining off an and-one from Pippins, but Louisiana's Frank Bartley hit a three with three seconds remaining, tying the game at 23-23 at the half.

After exchanging baskets early in the second half, Little Rock built a three-point lead at 32-29 at the 16:01 mark. Louisiana once again staged a furious run, using a 13-0 run over the next 4:23 to take its largest lead of the game at 42-32 at the midway point of the stanza, looking poised to break the game open.

But Little Rock's resiliency came through once again as the Trojans staged a rally of its own. Trailing 48-39 with 6:41 to play, Little Rock held the Ragin' Cajuns to just one field goal over the next 5:34, outscoring Louisiana 14-3 to reclaim the lead at 53-51 off a Pippins three with 13 second remaining.
The Trojans looked as if they may prevail in regulation but a late whistle with one second left sent the Ragin' Cajuns to the free throw line where they converted both attempts, sending the game to overtime.

Earlier in the day, the Little Rock women were forced to overtime against Louisiana and outscored the Ragin' Cajuns 9-0 to earn the victory. The Trojan men decided to employ a similar game plan, scoring the first five points of the overtime period and never looked back. Little Rock went 5-of-6 from the floor, including making both three-point attempts, while making 7-of-9 from the free throw line to secure the win. Little Rock's defense held Louisiana to just 2-of-13 shooting in the overtime period as the Ragin' Cajuns made just one of 10 three-point attempts.

Little Rock picks up its first overtime win of the season after dropping its previous two (Oral Roberts and Appalachian State), earning its first overtime win since a 79-75 decision over ULM on December 31, 2016. The win snaps a four-game losing skid to the Ragin' Cajuns and marks the Trojans' first win in the state of Louisiana since the Sun Belt championship victory over ULM in New Orleans in 2016.

The victory over Louisiana wraps up the 2017-18 regular season as Little Rock now turns its attention to the 2018 Sun Belt Conference Tournament. The number 12 seed, the Trojans will face fifth-seeded Appalachian State Wednesday, March 7. Tip time against the Mountaineers is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Lakefront Arena in New Orleans.

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