04 Dec 2024 Little Rock smothers rival A-State for non-conference win

In the long-standing rivalry between Little Rock and Arkansas State, the Red Wolves have earned their fair share of victories. However, none of those have come at the Jack Stephens Center where A-State entered Tuesday’s contest winless in 18 tries. That number is now 19 following the Trojans’ 59-49 victory, a win that snapped Little Rock’s five-game slide thanks to a smothering defense combined with the best shooting performance of the season.

Little Rock (2-5) shot a season-high 48.1 percent from the floor (26-of-54) while holding the visiting Red Wolves (2-4) to just 31.5 percent on the other end (17-of-54). The Trojans also outscored Arkansas State by 34 points inside the paint (48-14) and rode the tails of Jordan Holman’s double-double to their most complete outing of the 2024-25 campaign.

Holman led the Trojans with 15 points and pulled down a career-high 12 rebounds, hitting 7-of-11 shots and swiping a pair of steals on the defensive end. Mesi Triplett provided a huge spark off the bench, pumping in a career-best 12 points to go with three rebounds. Faith Lee (11 points) and Emerald Parker (10 points, 6 rebounds) also reached double figures. Alaina Payne came off the bench to add 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 points.

The Trojans suffocated Arkansas State defensively, posting a lead as large as 15-8 in the first period before the Red Wolves responded with a pair of triples to bring the score to 19-16 after the first 10 minutes. But in each of the last three frames, Little Rock would force their opponent into extended periods of offensive futility. A-State went a total of six minutes in the second without scoring as the Trojans went ahead 37-25 at the break.

The Red Wolves had a drought lasting 4:30 in the third as Little Rock went ahead by as many as 16 before settling for a 51-37 lead going into the final quarter. In the fourth, Arkansas State suffered through a run of three minutes without scoring. Despite outscoring Little Rock in the final stanza, the Red Wolves were unable to mount any serious threat to the final outcome.

Little Rock returns to action Saturday afternoon with a trip to Conway for the Governor’s I-40 Showdown against Central Arkansas. Tip-off inside the Farris Center is scheduled for 1 pm. The Sugar Bears (4-2 overall) are 3-0 on their home court.