UALR looks to clamp down at home

For the second time in three weeks, Coach Darrell Walker is harping about defense and how the Trojans need to fix theirs.

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s defense struggled mightily last week, allowing 80 or more points in losses at Texas State (8062) and the University of Texas at Arlington (82-73) last Thursday and Saturday, respectively.

The Trojans (7-12, 2-4 Sun Belt Conference) have lost nine consecutive road games and are 0-4 on the road against Sun Belt opponents.

But there’s good news: UALR’s coming home.

The Trojans — who are 6-3 at the Jack Stephens Center this season, including 2-0 against the Sun Belt — will tip off tonight at 6:30 against Coastal Carolina (8-9, 2-3). Tonight’s game will open a three-game home stand for UALR.

“Last couple of games, we were strictly not defending off the dribble,” Walker said. “And I addressed that with our guards. We were not good defensively. Once again, we’ll go back to working on defensive stuff and go from there. I still think we’re fine.

“The [Sun Belt] leaders are 5-1 and we’re 2-4. We win three games, we’re sitting there at 5-4.”

The Trojans have allowed 68.4 points per game when playing in Little Rock. On the road, they have surrendered 85.5 ppg — a 17.1-point difference.

UALR has allowed 97, 75, 80 and 82 points on the road to Sun Belt opponents this year, the first under Walker.

“I’m just worried about my team,” Walker said. “We’ve worked on stuff all week about keeping guys in front of us. We’ve been getting beat off the dribble and that’s not good. That’s coming from the guards. They know we have to get better at doing that. We’ll keep working on it.”

Perhaps the Trojans’ defensive remedy is simply returning home.

In UALR’s most recent home stand, it rolled through Troy 73-59 on Jan. 10 and South Alabama 91-62 on Jan. 12 for its second and third consecutive victory at home. The Trojans have allowed an average of 56.0 ppg during the streak.

A winning home stand could keep UALR lingering in the Sun Belt race. Multiple losses will turn the thought of contending for the regular-season title into a pipe dream.

UALR will host Appalachian State (5-13, 0-5) at 3 p.m. Saturday and Arkansas State University (8-11, 2-4) at 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 2.

“We’ve got to take care of home,” Walker said.

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/MITCHELL PE MASILUNUALR’s Kris Bankston blocks a shot during a game earlier this season. Bankston leads the Trojans with 21 blocks. Heading into tonight’s game against Coastal Carolina, the Trojans are allowing 68.4 points per game at home and 85.5 ppg on the road.