CONWAY, Ark. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears cut a 12-point, second-half deficit down to just three points twice in the final minute and a half before falling to Southeast Missouri 74-68 on Saturday afternoon in their home opener at the Farris Center.

    Junior guard Mike Martin drove the lane for a jumper with 1:25 remaining to make it a 70-67 game. Antonius Cleveland made 1 of 2 from the free-throw line for the Redhawks before Jake Zuilhof did the same for the Bears with 1:01 to play.

    Nino Johnson, who tied for the team lead with 20 points, also made 1 of 2 for a 72-68 lead with 30 seconds to play. UCA's ensuing possession ended in a turnover but SEMO missed twice at the line and junior forward Joel Fiegler cleared the rebound for the Bears with 15 seconds remaining. 

    UCA freshman guard Jordan Howard, who had a team-high 21 points and was 5 of 7 from three-point range, misfired on a three and was forced to foul. SEMO's Jarekious Bradley connected on both free throws for the final margin.

    The Bears (0-4) trailed by as much as 13 points with six minutes left in the first half but rallied behind the perimeter shooting of freshman Thatch Unruh and Howard, who nailed a three that just beat the buzzer to pull UCA within 39-33 at halftime. The Bears were 5 of 9 from three-point range in the first half and finished 9 of 21 (42.9 percent) for the game.

    Overall, the Bears shot 44.6 percent from the field but were just 9 of 15 from the line. The Redhawks shot 28 free throws, making 15, and outrebounded the Bears 45-31. Martin scored 13 points for the Bears, while Zuilhof had 12 points, 7 rebounds and 3 blocked shots, and Unruh scored 11 points. Johnson and Bradley topped the Redhawks with 20 points each, while Cleveland had 14 points and 11 rebounds.

    UCA returns to action Tuesday night at Charleston Southern before facing UALR on Saturday afternoon in Little Rock.