CONWAY, Ark. _ A double overtime game came down to free throws Saturday as the Charleston Southern Buccaneers outlasted the University of Central Arkansas Bears 97-90 in non-conference action at the Farris Center.
The Buccaneers (4-6) made 23 of 33 at the free-throw line, including 8 of 8 in the overtime periods, to hold off the Bears (2-7). UCA was just 14 of 30 (46.7 percent) from the line for the game, and made just 8 of 22 in the second half and overtimes combined.
"We shot 46 percent from the free-throw line, that was the difference,' said UCA head coach Clarence Finley. "You shoot 46 percent at the line, you're not going to win the big games. We had a great opportunity. We did everything we could possibly do to be in the game at the end, but we just couldn't make the free throws.'
UCA had numerous chances to put the game away in regulation but misfired six times at the line in the final 1:25. Senior guard LaQuentin Miles, in his first action since regaining his academic eligibility, missed twice with the score tied with just two seconds remaining.
Miles finished with a game-high 28 points, a point short of tying his career high in 48 minutes of action. He added 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals. Senior DeShone McClure added 20 points for the Bears, hitting three of UCA's 10 three-pointers.
"I thought LaQuentin played well, but we probably played him too many minutes,' said Finley. "But it was a game he had to play too many minutes. I wanted to take him out because you could tell he was tired, but with the situations and time running out, we just couldn't.'
The Buccaneers took an early lead in the first overtime on a pair of free throws from Matt Kennedy but Miles nailed a long three-pointer for an 82-81 UCA lead. Neither team managed to score for the next three minutes until CSU got two more free throws from Arlon Harper with 1:41 to play.
Tirrell, also playing his first game of the year, scored inside for the Bears for an 84-83 lead but Lenell Brown missed a free throw and Miles turned the ball over. CSU returned the favor and McClure turned it into a dunk and an 86-83 lead with 33 seconds to play.
But 5-foot-8 guard Saah Nimley, who made four threes on the night, nailed his final one of the game to send it to another extra period.
Jalen Jackson hit from deep for an 89-86 UCA lead in the opening minute of the second overtime but the Bears then missed three consecutive field goal attempts and Cedrick Bowen's jumper gave the Buccaneers the lead for good with 2:34 to play.
The teams combined for 24 three-pointers, with CSU making 14 of 23 (42.4 percent) and UCA hitting 10 of 17 (58.8 percent). UCA pulled down a season-high 52 rebounds, led by freshman Phabian Glasco with 9 and Brown and Miles with 8 each. Glasco added 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting.
Matt Kennedy topped CSU with 23 p oints, while Will Saunders added 20, Ninley 19 and Harper 15, hitting 10 of 10 from the line.
UCA returns to the Farris Center on Saturday, Dec. 28 against Omaha, a makeup game that was postponed because of weather. Tip-off is noon.
