Trojans

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Little Rock Trojans

General Information

NCAA Division: Division I
Conference: Ohio Valley Conference
Past Conferences: Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference, Trans America Athletic Conference, Sun Belt Conference
City: Little Rock, Arkansas
Arena: Jack Stephens Center

Championships:

  • NCAA Tournaments: 5 (1986, 1989, 1990, 2011, 2016)
  • National Championships – 0
  • Conference Titles – 7 (1982, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1988, 2016, 2020)

Team History

Little Rock’s first season playing organized basketball occurred in the 1930-31 season when the school was Little Rock Junior College. The team was 23-31 its first three seasons before hitting a rough stretch that saw the Trojans go 6-49 over the next six seasons. There was no team fielded between 1939-1941 and again in 1944-45. The team continued play as a junior college through the end of the 1955-56 season.

It wasn’t until the 1961-62 that the Trojans returned to the court, competing as a four-year school. Little Rock played as an NAIA school in the Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference. The Trojans reached the NAIA District 17 Playoffs in the 1973-74 season and made the move to Division I, playing several seasons as an independent before joining the Trans America Athletic Conference for the 1979-80 season.

The Trojans were a pretty decent team from the start, going 16-13 in their first season and Little Rock won the TAAC championship in 1982-83. After a 14-15 record in 1983-84 coach Ron Kestenbaum resigned to take a job back home with Brooklyn College. The Trojans brought in Mike Newell, who led the Trojans to the regular season conference victory in his first season. The following year, the Trojans won the TAAC tournament, earning their first berth to the NCAA Tournament. Little Rock upset No. 3 seed Notre Dame in the first round of the tournament and lost to No. 6 seed N.C. State in double overtime.

The Trojans received invitations to compete in the NIT the next two seasons, advancing to the third-place game in 1987 and losing in the first round in 1988. Little Rock returned to the NCAA Tournament in 1989 and 1990, losing in the first round both times. Newell left for Lamar after the 1990 season and the Trojans had some success over the next 20 seasons, receiving an NIT invite in 1996, but nothing like they enjoyed under Newell.

Little Rock ended its lengthy NCAA Tournament drought in 2011 but lost a First Four overtime game to UNC Asheville. Chris Beard took over the team for the 2015-16 season and the Trojans responded with its first 30-win season that saw Little Rock upset No. 5 seed Purdue in double overtime in the first round before losing to Iowa State in the second round. Beard left for Texas Tech after just one season and the Trojans haven’t competed in the postseason since. Little Rock moved to the Ohio Valley Conference after the 2021-22 season, ending a 31-year run in the TACC/Sun Belt Conference.

Little Rock Trojans All-Time Records

Points Scored

James Scott, 1,731
Malik Dixon, 1,603
Josh Hagins, 1,475

Rebounds

Larry Johnson, 1,315
Muntrell Dobbins, 1,010
Charlie Johnson, 1,007

Assists

Vaughn Williams, 534
Derek Fisher, 472
Josh Hagins, 468

Little Rock Trojans FAQs

How many Little Rock players have played in the NBA?

Little Rock has had eight players who played in a regular season NBA game, with Derek Fisher having the most success. In his NBA career that spanned 18 seasons, Fisher won five NBA titles with the Los Angeles Lakers. He also played for Golden State, Utah, Oklahoma City and Utah.

When did Little Rock drop the Arkansas-Little Rock from its name?

On July 1, 2015, the school announced the 14 athletic teams would drop the Arkansas-Little Rock and UALR brands and be known as the Little Rock Trojans. The name change was accompanied by a new logo.

How many school records does Derek Fisher hold?

Fisher was the most successful Little Rock player after college, but not necessarily in college. He’s in the top five in scoring, assists and steals but the only record he holds is most career free throws. He hit 399 of 534 foul shots.

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