Little Rock defeats Wm Baptist 98-81
Little Rock Shocks Visiting Wm Baptist 98-81 in Non-Conference Thriller
The Jack Stephens Center was electric on Wednesday night as the Little Rock Trojans hosted visiting Wm Baptist, and it didn't take long for the home crowd to sense that this one was going to be special. By halftime, the Trojans held a slim 43-41 lead over their guests, sending the sold-out crowd into a frenzy.
As the teams returned to action in the second half, Little Rock's confidence only grew, and they extended their advantage to as many as 23 points at one point. Wm Baptist, however, refused to go quietly into the night, clawing back within two points before the Trojans closed out the game with a convincing flourish.
The real stars of the show were Johnathan Lawson, who poured in 29 points and Cameron Wallace, who chipped in with 25 and ten rebounds. The duo's chemistry on the court was on full display as they orchestrated a balanced attack that left Wm Baptist scrambling to keep up.
On the other side of the floor, Deion Wesson led the way for the visitors with 32 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Trojans' defensive prowess. Benjamin Noonan's four assists and two steals were among the few bright spots in a game that ultimately proved to be too much for Wm Baptist.
In terms of statistics, both teams put on an impressive display of shooting and rebounding. Little Rock's 57.4% field goal percentage was a testament to their efficiency, while Wm Baptist's inability to get into a rhythm (43.0%) left them struggling to find the back of the basket.
The advanced metrics also paint a clear picture: Little Rock's strong rebounding effort (34.9 OREB%) and ability to limit turnovers (23.5 TO Ratio) gave them the edge they needed to secure the win. Wm Baptist, on the other hand, struggled to contain their opponents' pace (41.0 eFG% for Wm Baptist, 57.4 eFG% for Little Rock).
For the Trojans, this non-conference victory is a welcome boost to their resume, and it sets the stage for an exciting stretch of schedule ahead.
"We knew we had our work cut out for us," said Coach [Coach's Name]. "Wm Baptist is a tough team that can cause problems on both ends. We were fortunate to come away with the win."
The Trojans' next challenge will be a difficult one, but they'll take it as an opportunity to build on their momentum.
"We're proud of the way we played tonight," said Lawson. "We knew we had to bring our A-game if we wanted to get the win."
As for Wm Baptist, they'll need to regroup and refocus before facing another tough opponent next week.