UCA-SLU GAME NOTES
HAMMOND, La. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears will be looking to solve the puzzle that is playing at Southeastern Louisiana’s University Center for the past six years on Saturday afternoon.
The Bears (5-6, 0-1) face the Lions (2-9, 0-1) at 4 p.m. in an arena in which they have never won. UCA is just 3-9 against SLU overall since joining the Southland Conference in 2006, but is 0-6 on the SLU campus.
The teams have split the past two seasons, with UCA winning at the Farris Center, of course.
“We have a good game coming up on Saturday,’ said UCA head coach Corliss Williamson following Thursday night’s 83-79 loss at Nicholls which began the two-game SLC road trip. “I reminded our guys that they took a game from us at their place last year, a game we felt like we should have won. And that kind of set the tone for the rest of our season, that loss.
“So our guys remember that game and they’ll be ready to play Saturday.’
SLU’s Elgin Baylor tipped in a missed shot at the buzzer to force overtime and the Lions then outscored the Bears 12-8 in overtime for a 75-71 victory. UCA won the rematch 64-63 in Conway with an equally exciting ending as UCA’s LaQuentin Miles converted a three-point play in the final seconds for the win.
The Bears, who have lost three of their past four games after a three-game winning streak, shot 50.9 percent from the field against Nicholls on Thursday but had 22 turnovers. Senior guard Robert Crawford led UCA with 21 points, hitting 4 of 7 from three-point range. Crawford is second in the league in three-pont shooting, hittng 47.3 percent. He has made 35 threes this season in 10 games after making 37 all of last season.
Senior forward Jarvis Garner is third in the SLC in scoring (16.1) and seventh in rebounding (6.9). The Bears are second in the conference in scoring at 80.2 points per game.
The Lions, coming off an 86-72 home loss to preseason favorite Oral Roberts on Thursday, is 2-2 at home this season and 2-7 on the road. SLU is led by all-conference guard Brandon Fortenberry.
