Trojans can't catch up to Chanticleers

COASTAL CAROLINA 65, UALR 60

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock men's team returned to the losing column Thursday night, as the Trojans lost 65-60 to Coastal Carolina at the Jack Stephens Center in Little Rock.

UALR (6-22, 3-12 Sun Belt Conference) had snapped an eight-game losing streak Saturday in an 82-78 victory over Arkansas State University, but the Trojans have now matched their conference losses from last year with three games remaining in the season.

"We were hoping to kind of build off our win from Jonesboro," UALR Coach Wes Flanigan said. "But we didn't get it done tonight."

The Trojans never led against Coastal Carolina (13-16, 7-9), which led by as many as 11 points. UALR spent most of the second half within two scores of the Chanticleers, coming as close as 42-40 with 10:36 left in the game. But the Trojans surrendered four offensive rebounds in the final five minutes that drained the clock and forced fouls, and Coastal Carolina made 11 free throws in the final three minutes.

"We can't settle with being down two points, four points," said Trojans junior guard Ben Marcus, who had a game-high 15 points with 11 rebounds and 3 assists. "We have to keep fighting until we're on top. Tonight, we just didn't get back on top. But we're going to keep fighting no matter how much we're down."

Coastal Carolina had 15 offensive rebounds that contributed to 13 second-chance points. The Chanticleers entered the game with the Sun Belt's second-ranked rebounding margin (+6.2), and Flanigan tried to combat the disparity by subbing in 6-11 senior forward Wadly Mompremier.

Mompremier, who is limited by knee swellings from an injury he suffered at Ohio University, played 11 minutes and recorded six rebounds.

His one-handed defensive rebound after backing out Coastal Carolina forward Demario Beck led to a three-pointer that brought UALR within 31-23 at halftime.

Mompremier played just four minutes during the second half, and freshman forward Kris Bankston fouled out as UALR trailed 51-45 with 4:32 left in the game.

"We've struggled with physical play on the interior," Flanigan said. "Whether that'd be us finishing layups at the basket, whether that'd be physically being able to block out and rebound, that's been something we struggle with, and we've got to do a much better job on Saturday if we want to win."

UALR guards Cameron Corcoran and Camron Reedus combined for 19 points and went 5 of 10 from three-point distance, which helped the Trojans keep pace with Coastal Carolina's eight three-pointers.

Corcoran started in place of sophomore guard Ryan Pippins (7.3 points per game), who missed the game because of a concussion he suffered during Tuesday's practice.

Flanigan said Pippins could be a game-time decision for UALR's home game against Appalachian State on Saturday at 5 p.m.

Sports on 02/23/2018

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