LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Interstat) — A surging Morehead State looks to continue its push in the Ohio Valley Conference standings when it visits struggling Arkansas-Little Rock on Thursday night at Jack Stephens Center. The Eagles (17-12) have won five of their last six games, including a decisive 81-59 road victory at Western Illinois last Saturday. They currently sit in the upper half of the conference, fueled by efficient offense and the recent strong play of Jon Carroll. The guard has averaged 15.4 points over his last seven contests, including a 22-point performance against Tennessee Tech and an 18-point, 9-rebound effort in a win over Tennessee State. Conversely, the Trojans (11-18) have lost seven of their last nine, most recently falling 70-65 at home to Southeast Missouri State. Despite the team’s struggles, junior Johnathan Lawson has been a consistent bright spot, logging heavy minutes and stuffing the stat sheet. He is coming off a 15-point, 5-rebound, 5-assist, 2-block performance and has recorded two double-doubles in points and assists this month. The matchup will be the second between the programs this season. Morehead State claimed a 78-64 win at home on Dec. 16, 2025. The Eagles have been strong on the road in conference play, while the Trojans will seek to protect their home court and snap a three-game skid at the Jack Stephens Center. For Morehead State, maintaining momentum is critical for seeding in the upcoming OVC tournament. The Eagles’ balanced attack, which also features contributors like Tamaury Releford and George Marshall, will test a Trojan defense that has allowed 70 or more points in five of its last six losses. Arkansas-Little Rock will rely on Lawson’s all-around game and interior presence from players like Kachi Nzeh and shot-blocker Tuongthach Gatkek to slow the Eagle offense. The Trojans need a signature win to build confidence before hosting Southern Indiana on Saturday. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. EST Thursday in a game that pits one of the conference’s hottest teams against one seeking to reverse its fortunes in the final stretch of the regular season.