Little Rock Trojans Edge SIU Edwardsville Cougars
Thursday, January 8, 2026, 8:30 PM ET · First Community Arena
Little Rock Trojans 73, SIU Edwardsville Cougars 70, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Little Rock Trojans vs SIU Edwardsville Cougars?
Little Rock Trojans beat SIU Edwardsville Cougars 73-70 at First Community Arena on January 8, 2026.
Who was favored in Little Rock Trojans vs SIU Edwardsville Cougars?
SIU Edwardsville Cougars were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -175 (about 64% implied). The underdog won.
In a closely contested match at the First Community Arena, the Little Rock Trojans triumphed over the SIU Edwardsville Cougars with a final score of 73-70. This victory marks an important win for Little Rock, improving their record to 7-10, while the Cougars fall to 10-8.
This fixture was particularly noteworthy as it featured two teams with contrasting recent forms. The Cougars entered the game with a record of 7-3 over their last ten games, showcasing a solid scoring average of 75.2 points per game while allowing 65.0 points. They were on a one-game winning streak, having defeated the Lindenwood Lions 66-62 just two days prior. Conversely, the Trojans had struggled recently, recording a 3-7 mark in their last ten outings, averaging 69.9 points scored but allowing a significantly higher 77.0 points. Their last game resulted in a loss to the Tennessee State Tigers, which added pressure on them to perform in this matchup.
At home, the Cougars had a record of 5-2, while the Trojans were 1-5 in away games, highlighting the Cougars' advantage in familiar surroundings. The teams had met twice before, splitting their previous encounters; the Cougars won 73-65 at home in March 2025, while the Trojans had edged them 60-56 in December 2024.
In terms of injuries, no specific players were mentioned in the block, indicating that both teams likely fielded their full rosters for this critical game. The market had the Cougars as 3.5-point favorites, with DraftKings listing the total points over/under at 131.5. The odds reflected the expectation that the Cougars would perform well at home, although the Trojans' recent form suggested they could pose a challenge.
The game conditions were standard for a mid-January matchup, with both teams looking to capitalize on their strategies. The Cougars were expected to rely on their offensive firepower, while the Trojans aimed to improve their defensive efforts to contain the Cougars’ scoring.
As the game unfolded, it was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams exchanging leads. The Trojans' late-game execution proved crucial, as they made key free throws to maintain their advantage in the final minutes. Notably, Johnathan Lawson played a pivotal role, contributing multiple free throws that helped secure the win for Little Rock.
Ultimately, the Trojans' ability to close out the game under pressure was a significant factor in their victory, demonstrating resilience and determination. The Cougars will need to regroup quickly as they look to bounce back in their next matchup.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | SIUE -3.5 | 131.5 o -105 / u -115 | Little Rock Trojans +145 · SIU Edwardsville Cougars -175 |
Leaders
- PointsKyle Thomas15SIU Edwardsville Cougars
- AssistsJack Campion8SIU Edwardsville Cougars
- ReboundsKyle Thomas8SIU Edwardsville Cougars
- PointsJohnathan Lawson23Little Rock Trojans
- AssistsJohnathan Lawson5Little Rock Trojans
- ReboundsCameron Wallace12Little Rock Trojans
Recent form
SIU Edwardsville Cougars
Last 10: 7-3Streak W175.2 scored · 65 allowed per game5-2 at home
- W66-62vs Lindenwood LionsJan 7
- L72-73vs Morehead State EaglesJan 3
- W59-55vs Southern Indiana Screaming EaglesJan 1
- W66-61at Western Illinois LeathernecksDec 22
- L72-76at Eastern Illinois PanthersDec 18
- W97-54vs Eureka Red DevilsDec 14
- L73-83vs Western Michigan BroncosDec 6
- W72-63at North Florida OspreysDec 3
- W92-55vs Missouri Baptist SpartansNov 28
- W83-68vs Alabama State HornetsNov 23
Little Rock Trojans
Last 10: 3-7Streak L169.9 scored · 77 allowed per game1-5 away
- L79-84vs Tennessee State TigersJan 3
- W77-58vs Tennessee Tech Golden EaglesJan 1
- W98-84vs Williams Baptist EaglesDec 23
- W77-62at Southern Indiana Screaming EaglesDec 19
- L64-78at Morehead State EaglesDec 17
- L58-90at West Virginia MountaineersDec 10
- L78-90vs Arkansas State Red WolvesDec 7
- L47-85at Central Arkansas BearsDec 4
- L65-74at Southern Illinois SalukisNov 30
- L56-65at Texas State BobcatsNov 22
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Utah Valley | 25-9 | - | 14-4 |
| California Baptist | 25-9 | 1 | 13-5 |
| Utah Tech | 19-15 | 2 | 11-7 |
| UT Arlington | 18-14 | 5 | 9-9 |
| Southern Utah | 10-22 | 7 | 6-12 |
| Tarleton State | 14-18 | 9 | 5-13 |
| Abilene Christian | 14-19 | 9 | 5-13 |
| Tennessee State | 23-10 | - | 15-5 |
| Morehead State | 20-13 | - | 15-5 |
| Southeast Missouri State | 20-13 | 1 | 14-6 |
| UT Martin | 22-11 | 2 | 13-7 |
| SIU Edwardsville | 19-13 | 3 | 12-8 |
| Lindenwood | 18-15 | 4 | 11-9 |
| Little Rock | 12-20 | 6 | 9-11 |
| Tennessee Tech | 13-18 | 6 | 8-12 |
| Eastern Illinois | 13-20 | 7 | 8-12 |
| Southern Indiana | 7-23 | 11 | 4-16 |
| Western Illinois | 5-26 | 14 | 1-19 |
Box score
| Stat | Little Rock Trojans | SIU Edwardsville Cougars |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 25-60 | 25-54 |
| Field goal % | 42 | 46 |
| Three-pointers | 6-18 | 9-22 |
| Three-point % | 33 | 41 |
| Free throws | 17-25 | 11-16 |
| Free throw % | 68 | 69 |
| Rebounds | 34 | 37 |
| Offensive rebounds | 16 | 15 |
| Defensive rebounds | 18 | 22 |
| Assists | 15 | 17 |
| Steals | 11 | 4 |
| Blocks | 0 | 2 |
| Turnovers | 7 | 16 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 2 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 15 | 11 |
| Fast-break points | 5 | 4 |
| Points in the paint | 30 | 26 |
| Fouls | 13 | 18 |
| Largest lead | 5 | 16 |
| Lead changes | 1 | 1 |
| Time in front | 6 | 92 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half32-42Arnas Sakenis makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half32-45Darrion Baker makes 24-foot three point jumper (Jack Campion assists)
- 2nd Half33-45Braxton Bayless makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half33-47Darius Robinson Jr. makes 19-foot jumper (Corentin Efono assists)
- 2nd Half33-48Darius Robinson Jr. makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half34-48Cameron Wallace makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half34-50Arnas Sakenis makes layup (Tyler King assists)
- 2nd Half36-50Cameron Wallace makes layup (Braxton Bayless assists)
- 2nd Half38-50Johnathan Lawson makes layup
- 2nd Half38-52Tyler King makes 9-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half40-52Tuongthach Gatkek makes 1-foot dunk (Kachi Nzeh assists)
- 2nd Half40-54Kyle Thomas makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half41-54Tuongthach Gatkek makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half42-54Tuongthach Gatkek makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half45-54Braxton Bayless makes 24-foot three point jumper (Johnathan Lawson assists)
- 2nd Half47-54Cameron Wallace makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half47-55Arnas Sakenis makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half47-56Arnas Sakenis makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half48-56Cameron Wallace makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half48-58Arnas Sakenis makes 2-foot dunk (Jack Campion assists)
- 2nd Half48-60Corentin Efono makes layup
- 2nd Half51-60Kachi Nzeh makes 25-foot three point jumper (Johnathan Lawson assists)
- 2nd Half53-60Johnathan Lawson makes 11-foot jumper
- 2nd Half54-60Cameron Wallace makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half57-60Johnathan Lawson makes 25-foot three point jumper (Braxton Bayless assists)
- 2nd Half60-60Kachi Nzeh makes 23-foot three point jumper (Braxton Bayless assists)
- 2nd Half60-63Jo Valrie makes 23-foot three point jumper (Jordan Pickett assists)
- 2nd Half62-63Tuongthach Gatkek makes 14-foot jumper (Kachi Nzeh assists)
- 2nd Half62-65Kyle Thomas makes 15-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half62-67Darrion Baker makes layup
- 2nd Half64-67Tuongthach Gatkek makes 2-foot dunk
- 2nd Half66-67Braxton Bayless makes layup (Tuongthach Gatkek assists)
- 2nd Half68-67Tuongthach Gatkek makes 4-foot dunk (Cameron Wallace assists)
- 2nd Half69-67Johnathan Lawson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half70-67Johnathan Lawson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half70-68Darrion Baker makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half71-68Johnathan Lawson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half72-68Johnathan Lawson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half73-68Kachi Nzeh makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half73-70Tyler King makes 0-foot tip in layup
Win probability
Above the line favours SIU Edwardsville Cougars, below favours Little Rock Trojans.
Venue
- First Community ArenaEdwardsville, IL
- Attendance1102
- OfficialsMichael Ingram, Cedric Coleman, Steve Divine
Elsewhere
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- Men's NCAA basketball 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings
- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond
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