CONWAY, Ark. _ A solid inside-outside combination carried the Omaha Mavericks to a 104-88 victory over the University of Central Arkansas Bears on Saturday afternoon at the Farris Center.

UNO center John Karhoff, a smooth 6-foot-8, 235-pound senior, scored 28 points for the Mavericks (10-4), hitting 10 of 13 from the field and 8 of 8 from the free-throw line. The Mavericks also nailed 11 of 22 from three-point range, led by senior guard Justin Simmons, who was 4 of 7.

The Bears countered with a one-two punch of seniors LaQuentin Miles and DeShone McClure. Miles, in just his second game since regaining his eligibility, scored 28 points and pulled down a career-high 16 rebbounds, nearly half of UCA's team total of 34. McClure added 21 points, including 3 of 6 shooting from three-point range.

"We knew they were a pretty good team coming in,' said UCA coach Clarence Finley. "They played Minnesota well, they played UNLV well. Just a very solid basketball team. The little point guard was very quick. The big man (Karhoff) did his post work early.

"We tried to match him but we couldn't get around to front him, we didn't take him off his sweet spot. We tried to double him but other people were making shots. It was just a tough day for us defensively.''

The Bears shot 50 percent from the field in the first half and for the game, but made just 18 of 29 (62.1 percent) from the free-throw line, their second straight game where the line cost them. The Mavericks were 21 of 24 (87.5 percent) at the line.

"Free throws got us again,' said Finley. "We made some early in the game, but then down the stretch when we had to have them, we made one or two here or there. We're going to get better at free throws. We're going to keep working at it religiously.'

The Bears, down nine points at halftime, cut the deficit to just two points at 63-61 on Jalen Jackson's steal and layup with 12:23 to play. After Omaha pushed its lead back to 13 points, the Bears made one last run with Miles getting consecutive fast-break dunks and Jackson converting 1 of 2 at the line to get UCA within 91-84 with 3:20 to play.

But the Mavericks went back inside to Karhoff and he scored seven straight points to put the game out of reach over the final two minutes.

Jackson added 15 points for the Bears, who dropped their fifth straight game to fall to 2-8 overall with one non-conference game remaining before Southland Conference play opens next week. UCA hosts Ecclesia at 4 p.m. Monday in the second game of a doubleheader with the Sugar Bears.

UCA had only six players score, with freshman Ethan Lee the only bench player in the scoring column with nine points. The Mavericks had 39 points off their bench and had five players in double figures. Simmons had 18 points, while C.J. Carter added 13.

SLC play begins Thursday with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi coming to the Farris Center. UCA also hosts Houston Baptist on Saturday afternoon.