HAMMOND, La.- Despite a 23-point performance by junior forward Mark Rutledge and a halftime lead, Southeastern Louisiana defeated Central Arkansas 74-63 in Southland Conference action at the University Center on Saturday afternoon. With the win, the Lions improve to 13-13 overall and 7-7 in league play, while the Bears drop to 5-22 and 1-13.

A Rutledge layup with 12:37 left in the first half gave UCA a 16-10 lead, their biggest of the game. The Lions answered with a 9-0 run, led by four points from DeShwan Patterson go up 19-16 with 10:14 in the period. The rest of the period was back-and-forth with four ties, before Bear senior guard Imad Qahwash hit a free throw with 22 seconds remaining to give UCA a 28-27 halftime lead.

With the score tied 38-38 with 15:30 left in the game, SLU guard Brandon Fortenberry scored the next nine points, including a pair of three-pointers, during the next 4:11, giving the Lions the lead for good. SLU would go up by as many as 15 in the second half.

The Bears shot 47.6 percent in the first half, but only shot 33.3 percent in the second. The Lions improved from 35.7 percent to 53.6 from half to half. For the game SLU went 44.6 percent (25-of-56) from the floor, while UCA went 39.2 percent (20-of-51). The Lions made eight three-pointers, while UCA only made three.

Rutledge went 9-for-14 from the field for a season-high 23 points and seven rebounds. Guards Dewan Clayborn and Mike Pouncy scored nine each for UCA.

Five players reached double-digit scoring for the Lions. Fortenberry led the way with 16 points and four assists. Rossevelt Johnson came off the bench for 15 points. Trent Hutchin scored 11 points while Patterson had 10 points and seven assists and center David Ndoumba chipped in 10.

The Bears outrebounded the Lions 37-30.

UCA will play in San Antonio on Wednesday at UTSA for another Southland Conference game.