LIVE AUDIO:
http://ucasports.com/showcase/
LIVE STATS:
http://sidearmstats.com/mcneese/mbball/
LAKE CHARLES, La. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears will face a well-rested McNeese State team when they play at 7:30 p.m. tonight in Southland Conference action at the Lake Charles Civic Center.
The Cowboys (6-13, 4-3) have not played since Jan. 21 when they lost in overtime to Nicholls State, also at the Civic Center. UCA (4-14, 1-6) is looking to break a five-game losing streak against a team it swept last season.
The Bears won a 103-98 triple overtime thriller at the Farris Center in the first meeting with the Cowboys, then pulled out a 68-67 win at the Cowboys' normal home court, Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles, last February.
The Bears and Cowboys have a short history at the Civic Center, McNeese's home-away-from-home. McNeese won 87-76, outscoring UCA 29-6 at the free-throw line. The Cowboys made 29 of 40 at the line while the Bears were 6 of 8. UCA made more field goals (30-26) and more three-pointers (10-6) than McNeese, but the Cowboys made more free throws than they did field goals.
UCA, which was called for 30 fouls, had two players foul out of the game and three finished with four fouls. McNeese, with just 13 fouls, had no player with more than three personal fouls.
Both teams are needing victories, as the Cowboys have lost two of their last three games. UCA's last win was an 86-69 victory over Houston Baptist back on Jan. 4 in Conway.
One key matchup could be UCA's three-point shooting against McNeese State's three-point defense. UCA is fourth in the SLC in three-point percentage (36.5 percent), while McNeese is 13th in defending the three-pointer (allowing 37.4 percent). However, UCA has slumped from the perimeter in the past two games, making just 7 of 36 (19.4 percent) against Northwestern State and Stephen F. Austin.
Senior guard LaQuentin Miles continues to lead the SLC in scoring at 22.6 points per game, and also averages team-highs of 6.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists. The Cowboys are led by Ledrick Eackles at 15.2 points per game and Kevin Hardy at 6.6 rebounds per game.
