LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Interstat) — Arkansas-Little Rock used a dominant second half to defeat Eastern Illinois 74-63 in an Ohio Valley Conference men’s basketball game Thursday night at Jack Stephens Center. The Panthers led 37-30 at halftime, but the Trojans surged after the break, outscoring Eastern Illinois 44-26. Johnathan Lawson led Arkansas-Little Rock with 15 points and six assists. Kachi Nzeh added a game-high 17 points. Zion Fruster scored 14 points for Eastern Illinois. The loss dropped the Panthers to 7-11 overall, while Arkansas-Little Rock improved to 8-10. An announced crowd of 1,263 watched the Trojans snap a two-game skid.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Interstat) — A dominant second-half performance fueled by a decisive edge in points off turnovers propelled Arkansas-Little Rock to a 74-63 victory over Eastern Illinois in an Ohio Valley Conference men’s basketball game Thursday night at Jack Stephens Center. The Trojans, who trailed by seven at halftime, outscored the Panthers 44-26 after the break, turning a tight contest into a comfortable double-digit win in front of 1,263 fans. The victory improved Arkansas-Little Rock to 8-10 overall, while Eastern Illinois fell to 7-11. The game’s pivotal shift occurred early in the second half. Leading 37-30 at intermission, Eastern Illinois saw its advantage evaporate during a devastating 13-0 run by the Trojans. The surge transformed a 39-34 deficit into a 47-39 lead for the home team with 16:39 remaining, a margin they would not relinquish. Arkansas-Little Rock’s defense was the catalyst, generating turnovers and converting them into easy offense. The Trojans scored 31 points off 15 Eastern Illinois turnovers, a stark contrast to the Panthers’ 11 points off 12 Trojan giveaways. This 20-point disparity proved to be the single most critical factor in the outcome. The Trojans also capitalized in transition, outscoring Eastern Illinois 12-2 on fastbreak points. Johnathan Lawson orchestrated the Trojan attack, finishing with 15 points and six assists. His backcourt mate, Braxton Bayless, added 14 points. The interior was controlled by Kachi Nzeh, who posted a game-high 17 points, and Cameron Wallace, who contributed 14 points and relentless work on the glass. Tuongthach Gatkek also reached double figures with 10 points. Eastern Illinois was led by Zion Fruster’s 14 points, but he was hampered by multiple turnovers. The Panthers shot a respectable 45.3 percent from the field but were undone by their ball security issues and a significant rebounding deficit. Arkansas-Little Rock grabbed 15 offensive rebounds, leading to 15 second-chance points and helping them attempt 17 free throws to Eastern Illinois’ 10. The first half was a back-and-forth affair featuring eight lead changes. Eastern Illinois built its largest lead at 28-21 following a three-pointer from Meechie White with 1:37 left, but the Trojans closed the period on a 9-2 run, capped by consecutive jumpers from Bayless, to trim the margin to 37-30 at the break. The Panthers’ offense never found its rhythm after halftime, managing just a 36.7 percent shooting clip in the second half while committing nine turnovers. Arkansas-Little Rock steadily expanded its lead, pushing it to as many as 13 points in the final minutes. A late dunk from Truman Claytor with 13 seconds remaining provided the final margin. For Eastern Illinois, Nazareth Fisher added eight points and eight rebounds. The Panthers, who entered the game having won three of their last four, could not sustain their momentum against the Trojans’ defensive pressure. Arkansas-Little Rock, which entered as a significant favorite according to advanced metrics, validated that projection with its second-half execution. The combined score of 137 points fell under the pregame over/under line of 134. The Trojans will look to build on the win when they host Western Illinois on Saturday. Eastern Illinois returns home to face Blackburn on Sunday before resuming conference play on the road next week. The two teams are scheduled for a rematch in Charleston, Illinois, on Feb. 14.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Interstat) — Two teams seeking momentum in Ohio Valley Conference play will meet Thursday when the Eastern Illinois Panthers visit the Arkansas-Little Rock Trojans at Jack Stephens Center. Eastern Illinois (6-10) arrives after snapping a two-game skid with a 74-70 home win over Tennessee State on Saturday. The Panthers are led by guard Zion Fruster, who scored 19 points and dished five assists in that victory. Over his last six games, Fruster is averaging 15.7 points and 3.5 assists, including a 23-point performance in an overtime win against SIU Edwardsville last month. Arkansas-Little Rock (7-10) has won two straight, including an 82-74 road victory at Lindenwood on Saturday. Trojans guard Braxton Bayless keyed that win with 21 points and seven assists. In the two conference wins last week, Bayless averaged 15.5 points and 5.5 assists while playing nearly 37 minutes per game. Both teams have faced similar struggles in non-conference play but are showing signs of life in January. The Panthers’ offense has found a rhythm, scoring 71 points or more in three of their last four games. The Trojans have relied on a balanced attack, with Johnathan Lawson (20 points vs. Lindenwood) and Kachi Nzeh providing consistent support for Bayless. Defensive consistency will be a key factor. Eastern Illinois allows 73.1 points per game, while Arkansas-Little Rock surrenders 75.2. The Panthers will need to contain the Trojans’ backcourt duo, while Arkansas-Little Rock must account for Fruster’s scoring and playmaking. This begins a crucial two-game homestand for the Trojans before a lengthy road trip. Eastern Illinois continues a stretch of playing four of its first six OVC games on the road. The teams will meet again in Charleston, Illinois, on Feb. 14.