GAME NOTES: The Arkansas-Little Rock Trojans will try to bounce back from their worst outing of the season, as they tangle with the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders in Sun Belt Conference play tonight. The Trojans were last in action a week ago, when they suffered a 71-47 beating at Western Kentucky. The loss put an end to a brief two-game win streak and dropped UALR to 14-7 overall and 6-4 in conference play. Up next for the Trojans is a contest against North Texas on Saturday. As for MTU, it concluded a successful two-game road swing with a thrilling 89-86 overtime triumph at Arkansas State on Monday. It was the third win in a row for the Raiders, who improved to 10-11 overall and a much better 7-4 in SBC play. The team now returns back home, where it has gone 4-1 against league foes. In terms of the all-time series, UALR owns a 10-6 edge over MTU, but the Raiders have won the last two meetings.

The Trojans have relied on solid defense to get the job done this season, as they are limiting their foes to just 61.5 ppg and only 39.9 percent shooting from the floor. The team has also fared well on the boards, outrebounding its opponents by 6.7 rpg. Offensively, UALR is balanced and that is evident in the fact that no player is currently averaging in double figures. De'Andre Eggins leads the squad with just 9.0 ppg and he is also grabbing 4.5 rpg. In the team's last game, Eggins poured in 22 points and snared seven caroms, but it wasn't nearly enough for UALR in a lopsided loss at Western Kentucky. The Trojans shot a horrific 29.4 percent from the floor in the contest and they also committed a whopping 22 turnovers.

The Blue Raiders come into the game scoring 67.8 ppg on 44.9 percent shooting from the floor, with two players averaging in double figures. Desmond Yates leads the squad in scoring at 15.7 ppg and he is collecting 4.6 rpg and making 56.7 percent of his field goals. Demetrius Green contributes 11.7 ppg and 4.8 rpg for MTU and he also has 17 steals to his name. On Monday, Yates poured in 28 points and ripped down eight caroms to lift the Raiders past Arkansas State in overtime. Nigel Johnson tallied 22 points, and Green finished with 13 points in the triumph. MTU shot a scorching 60.7 percent from the field and that includes a 10-of-16 performance from downtown.

Middle Tennessee is on a roll right now and it should be able to use its momentum and homecourt advantage to defeat the Trojans tonight.