Freshman Nowell rescues Little Rock in Walker's debut

Nov 9, 2019, 03:33 am

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Markquis Nowell, in his first collegiate game, scored with one second in regulation to force overtime and then added 14 in the extra session, finishing with 34 points to lead Little Rock to a 101-92 win over Southeastern Oklahoma in Darrell Walker's debut as the Trojans' coach on Thursday night.

Little Rock held the Division II Savage Storm scoreless for the final 1:34, scoring the final six points, capped by Nowell's floater in the lane, tying the game at 79.

Nowell hit a jumper that gave the Trojans a five-point lead to start the overtime and it was the first of 13-straight points he scored for Little Rock. That included an 8-0 run that made it 95-83 with a minute to go.

The Savage Storm scored 12 straight points in the first half on four 3-pointers, three by Kayo Goncalves, to open a 10-point lead and it was 39-34 at the half. Little Rock battled back to take a 53-52 lead with 14:03 to go but Southeastern Oklahoma scored the next eight and led by as many as nine before the Trojans rallied.

Kris Bankston added 18 points for Little Rock, which shot 56 percent for the game. Nowell, who also had eight assists was 12 of 24, including 6 of 13 on 3s to set a record for the Trojans in the Jack Stevens Center.

Walker was a first-round draft choice out of Arkansas and played 12 years in the NBA and coached professionally 20 years before spending the last two years at Clark Atlanta.

Kevin Buckingham had 33 points and 11 rebounds for SE Oklahoma, which went 18 of 47 behind the arc.