EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. (Interstat) — Johnathan Lawson scored 23 points as Arkansas-Little Rock erased a halftime deficit to defeat SIU Edwardsville 73-70 in an Ohio Valley Conference men’s basketball game Thursday night at Vadalabene Center. The Trojans, who trailed 40-32 at halftime, outscored the Cougars 41-30 in the second half. Lawson added five assists. Tuongthach Gatkek scored 14 points and Kachi Nzeh added 15 for Arkansas-Little Rock. Kyle Thomas led SIU Edwardsville with 15 points. The Trojans forced 14 turnovers, converting them into key second-chance opportunities despite being outshot from the field. Arkansas-Little Rock improved to 6-10 overall, while SIU Edwardsville fell to 10-7. Attendance was 1,102.

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. (Interstat) — Johnathan Lawson scored 23 points, including two crucial free throws with 22 seconds remaining, and Arkansas-Little Rock erased a 10-point halftime deficit to stun SIU Edwardsville 73-70 in an Ohio Valley Conference men’s basketball game Thursday night at Vadalabene Center. The most important part of the game unfolded in the final minute, as the Trojans executed under pressure to seal the comeback. With Arkansas-Little Rock clinging to a 71-68 lead, Lawson was fouled and calmly sank both free throws to extend the margin to five. After a missed three-pointer by SIU Edwardsville’s Jo Valrie, the Cougars’ Tyler King converted a putback and was fouled with one second left, making the free throw to cut the deficit to 73-70. The Trojans successfully inbounded the ball to run out the clock, securing a road victory that defied the statistical projections. SIU Edwardsville, which entered as a heavy favorite according to advanced metrics, controlled the first half behind efficient perimeter shooting. The Cougars built a 40-32 lead at the break, connecting on 7 of 15 three-point attempts before halftime. Arkansas-Little Rock’s defense tightened significantly after intermission, forcing nine second-half turnovers and holding the Cougars to just 30 points on 10-of-30 shooting from the field. Lawson, a 6-foot-7 guard from Memphis, Tennessee, led all scorers and added five assists in 40 minutes of action. His performance continued a strong individual stretch, marking his third consecutive game with at least 20 points. He was supported by frontcourt players Kachi Nzeh and Tuongthach Gatkek, who combined for 29 points. Gatkek, a 6-foot-9 forward from Portland, Maine, added three assists and three steals, with two of those thefts coming during the Trojans’ decisive closing push. The Cougars were led by Kyle Thomas with 15 points, while Jo Valrie and Arnas Sakenis each added 14. Sakenis, a 6-foot-11 center, also blocked two shots. Despite shooting a better percentage from the field and from three-point range for the game, SIU Edwardsville was undone by ball security, committing 14 turnovers that led to 15 points for the Trojans. Arkansas-Little Rock also dominated the assist category, recording 11 to the Cougars’ four, indicative of their more fluid offensive execution down the stretch. A key sequence occurred with just over three minutes remaining and the score tied at 67. Gatkek stole the ball from SIU Edwardsville’s Jordan Pickett and immediately found Braxton Bayless for a layup to give the Trojans a lead they would not relinquish. Arkansas-Little Rock’s defense then forced a shot clock violation on the ensuing Cougar possession, setting the stage for the tense final minutes. With the win, Arkansas-Little Rock improved to 6-10 overall and evened its conference record. SIU Edwardsville fell to 10-7. The announced attendance was 1,102. The Trojans travel to face Lindenwood on Saturday. SIU Edwardsville continues its homestand with a game against Tennessee-Martin next Thursday. Game Notes: Arkansas-Little Rock shot 41.7% from the field (25 of 60) while SIU Edwardsville shot 46.3% (25 of 54). The Trojans made 17 of 25 free throws compared to the Cougars’ 11 of 16. Both teams were nearly even in rebounding, with SIU Edwardsville holding a slight 38-36 edge.

Preview: Arkansas-Little Rock at SIU Edwardsville EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. (Interstat) — An Ohio Valley Conference men’s basketball matchup featuring teams on opposite trajectories will take place Thursday when the SIU Edwardsville Cougars host the Arkansas-Little Rock Trojans at the Vadalabene Center. SIU Edwardsville (9-6) looks to rebound from a narrow 73-72 home loss to Morehead State last Saturday and solidify its position in the conference race. The Cougars had won three of their previous four games prior to that defeat. Arkansas-Little Rock (5-10) aims to halt a two-game skid after falling 84-79 to Tennessee State, also on Saturday. The Trojans have struggled for consistency, alternating wins and losses over their past five contests. A key matchup will be in the frontcourt between two impactful forwards. The Trojans are led by Kachi Nzeh, who is coming off a 16-point, 8-rebound performance against Tennessee State and has averaged 14.6 points over his last five games. His presence as a scorer and rim protector will be central to Little Rock’s plans. For the Cougars, forward Darrion Baker provides a versatile counter. He scored a team-high 15 points in the loss to Morehead State and has been a steady contributor on both ends of the floor. Beyond the individual battle, the game pits SIU Edwardsville’s stronger overall record and home-court advantage against a Little Rock team that has shown flashes, including a 77-58 conference win over Tennessee Tech on New Year’s Day. The Trojans will need significant contributions from Johnathan Lawson, who scored 20 points in the last outing, and guard Braxton Bayless to challenge the Cougars. This contest opens a critical January stretch for both squads as they navigate the OVC schedule. The rematch is set for Saturday, Feb. 7, in Little Rock. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. EST Thursday.