LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Interstat) — A surging Lindenwood looks to avenge an early conference loss when it visits Arkansas-Little Rock in an Ohio Valley Conference men’s basketball matchup Thursday night at Jack Stephens Center. The Lions (14-9) have won four of their last five, including a dramatic 79-78 road victory at Morehead State last Saturday. The Trojans (9-13), meanwhile, have dropped three straight and five of their last six. The teams met just over three weeks ago in St. Charles, Mo., with Little Rock securing an 82-74 win. That result adds a layer of urgency for Lindenwood, which sits in a more favorable position in the league standings. A key rematch will be between standout guards. Lindenwood’s Anias Futrell is playing at an elite level, averaging 24.3 points over his last six games. He scored 30 in the first meeting against Little Rock. Trojans’ guard Braxton Bayless was equally dominant in that Jan. 10 contest, finishing with 21 points and seven assists to lead his team to victory. Futrell is coming off a 26-point, nine-rebound, three-block performance in the win at Morehead State, where Milos Nenadic added 21 points. Bayless scored 24 in Little Rock’s most recent outing, an 87-77 loss at Tennessee Tech. Lindenwood’s recent success has been fueled by improved offensive output, scoring 73 or more points in four of their last five wins. The Trojans have struggled defensively during their skid, allowing an average of 75.6 points per game in their last five contests. The game is critical for both teams’ momentum heading into the final month of the regular season. A win for Lindenwood would solidify its upper-tier standing and complete a successful road swing. For Little Rock, stopping the slide at home is paramount before hosting SIU Edwardsville on Saturday. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CST.