LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Interstat) — Two Ohio Valley Conference men’s basketball teams seeking momentum will meet on New Year’s Day when the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles visit the Arkansas-Little Rock Trojans at Jack Stephens Center on Thursday. Tennessee Tech (6-7) enters the conference matchup looking to rebound from an 86-62 home loss to Tennessee-Martin on Dec. 20, its most recent outing. The Golden Eagles had won three straight prior to that defeat, including an 85-74 victory over Southeast Missouri State. Arkansas-Little Rock (4-9) snapped a five-game skid with a 98-84 win over Williams Baptist on Dec. 22. A key matchup will feature two of the league’s top scorers. Tennessee Tech’s Mekhi Cameron is averaging 13.2 points per game over his last five contests, including a 19-point performance against Tennessee-Martin. For the Trojans, Johnathan Lawson has been a consistent offensive force, averaging 18.0 points per game in that same span. He erupted for 29 points and six assists in the win over Williams Baptist and scored 33 against Arkansas State on Dec. 6. The Golden Eagles have shown a potent offense at times, scoring 101 points against Bethel and 87 against West Georgia this month. However, they have also struggled against high-major opponents, falling to Georgia and Kentucky by wide margins in November. Arkansas-Little Rock’s season has been marked by similar inconsistency, with a 25-point win over Southern Indiana followed by a 38-point loss to Central Arkansas earlier in December. Defense may prove decisive. Tennessee Tech allowed 86 points in its last loss, while the Trojans have conceded 85 points or more in four of their nine defeats this season. The team that establishes defensive control early will likely gain the upper hand. This game opens a critical January conference slate for both programs. The Golden Eagles continue their road trip with games at Eastern Illinois and Western Illinois next week. The Trojans remain at home to host Tennessee State on Saturday before hitting the road. Thursday’s contest is scheduled for a 7 p.m. CST tip-off at Jack Stephens Center.