HAMMOND, La. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears have already beaten a team on the road this season they had never beaten before. They will try to repeat that Wednesday when they play the Southeastern Louisiana Lions at 7 p.m. at the University Center.
UCA knocked off Northwestern State 77-73 back on Jan. 14 for its first-ever win in Natchitoches, La. The Bears enter Wednesday’s game with an 0-5 record against the Lions in Hammond. UCA was winless on the road last season but has won twice this season.
“Our guys know we can do it because we won at Northwestern State earlier,’ said UCA head coach Corliss Williamson. “That should give us some confidence as far as playing on the road.
“But we also know every game on the road in conference play is going to be tough. You have to come to play, and play well, every night.’
The Bears have won two of their past three Southland Conference games, including the road victory over the Demons. UCA is coming off a 92-78 loss to the Lamar Cardinals last Saturday at the Farris Center.
The Lions are 7-10 overall and 1-4 in Southland Conference play. Leading returnee Brandon Fortenberry has played just seven games for the Lions this season due to injury. Their leading scorer in his absence has been Roosevelt Johnson at 9.9 points per game. Johnson is also their top rebounder (7.5) and ranks fifth in the SLC. Veteran guard DeShawn Patterson is ranked in the top five in both assists and steals.
“They have a team that has stuggled some this season,’ said Williamson. “But they’ve been playing without their No. 1 player, Branton Fortenberry, and he’s one of the best players in the conference. They’re talented enough to figure it out one of these games and we just hope it’s not against us.’
SLU leads the overall series with UCA 8-2. The teams split last season, with each winning on their home floor.
UCA junior guard Robert Crawford assumed the top spot in the league this week in three-point percentage at 55.3 percent and is fourth in overall field-goal percentage (55.1). In his past seven games, five of those starts, Crawford has connected on 19 of 32 threes (59.3 percent).
“Robert continues to shoot the ball with a lot of confidence, and it shows,’ said Williamson. “He’s really starting to feel comfortable in the offense and taking those shots.’
UCA continues its road swing Sunday with a matchup with McNeese State in Lake Charles, La., Tipoff is 3 p.m. at the Lake Charles Civic Center.
