HUNTSVILLE, TEXAS _ Earlier this season, the University of Central Arkansas Bears beat Northwestern State on the road for the first time in school history. Wednesday night, they will try to do it again, this time against Sam Houston State.

The Bears(7-16, 2-9) take on the Bearkats (10-15, 4-7) at 7 p.m. at Johnson Coliseum. SHSU is a perfect 4-0 against UCA in games played in Hunstville, and leads the overall series 7-0.

UCA will bring the fifth-best scoring offense (73.0) in the Southland Conference into the game, while SHSU counters with one of the stoutest defenses, allowing just 61.1 points per game, second in the league. The Bearkats are currently in fourth place in the SLC West Division, while UCA is in sixth in the SLC East.

UCA junior forward Jarvis Garner of Conway has put together back-to-back games with 15 rebounds and has moved into 10th place in the conference in that category. Sophomore LaQuentin Miles is fifth in scoring (15.8) despite consecutive games of 2 and 4 points, and is first in steals (2.0). Junior Robert Crawford is third in three-point percentage (44.8).

The Bearkats have two individuals ranked in the top two in the conference. Darius Gatson is second in assists (4.4) and Steven Werner is second in field-goal percentage (62.2).

UCA senior guard Dewan Clayborn has moved into seventh place in career steals with 108 and eighth in career three-pointers made with and even 100. The Little Rock Parkview product is also tied for 17th in career assists at 199, tied with Luke Rowan (1999-2003).

The Bears, who have lost seven consecutive games, have five SLC games remaining, two at home and three on the road. They will sandwich a BracketBuster game with Louisiana Tech on Saturday in Ruston, La., between those league contests.