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CONWAY, Ark. _ If the University of Central Arkansas Bears were needing any momentum for the remainder of their four-game home stand, they got it in bushels Thursday night with a triple overtime victory over McNeese State before a raucous crowd of 2,712 at the Farris Center.
Senior forward Jarvis Garner sent the game to overtime with a 30-foot three-point rainbow from the right wing, then made another from a similar spot to force a second extra period. The Bears (7-10, 2-5) then outscored the Cowboys 9-4 in the final overtime, hitting 3 of 4 from the free-throw line in the final 21 seconds to seal their second straight Southland Conference victory.
Garner tied his career highs with 38 points, 15 rebounds and 5 assists, shooting 14 of 19 overall and 6 of 9 from three-point range. Junior guard LaQuentin Miles also had a double-double with 25 points and a career-high 10 assists. Senior center Anthony Borden had his best game at UCA with 14 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks.
The Bears managed the victory with then-leading scorer Robert Crawford held to just six points. Garner is now the team leader _ and third in the SLC _ at 16.5 points per game. He is also seventh in rebounding at 7.1 and seventh in free-throw shooting at 76.6.
“To win two games in a row is really big for us, confidence-wise,’ said UCA head coach Corliss Williamson. “And to win the game like we did, in triple overtime, was huge. They guys responded and came up big and figured out how to win the game.
“It was just an all-around team effort. Our guys continued to fight and stick together. They just believed they could win the game. The crowd was great, the atmosphere was great. It was fun to be a part of something like that.’
The Bears, the most prolific three-point shooting team in the league at 7.8 made per game, face the least productive perimeter shooting team in the Cardinals, who average just 1.9 per outing. Lamar (2-17, 0-7), the Southland Conference’s NCAA Tournament representative a year ago, is riding a seven-game losing streak.
The last win for the Cardinals, coached by Pat Knight, son of legendary coach Bobby Knight, was against LIU-Brooklyn on Dec. 29 in Beaumont, Texas. Since then, Lamar has lost seven straight league games.
“Our guys are itching to play against Lamar on Saturday,’ said Williamson. “You know, we haven’t beaten them yet, so it will be a great game for us. I think our guys will be up for it.’
Lamar won both games in the series last season en route to a 23-12 record. The Bears are 0-10 career against the Cardinals since joining the SLC in 2006-07.
The Bears have two more home games next week, against Southeastern Louisiana on Thursday (ESPN3) and Nicholls State on Saturday afternoon.
