LITTLE ROCK, Ark. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears had enough offense Saturday against UALR, but the defensive stops were missing as the Trojans downed the Bears 85-71 at the Jack Stephens Center.
The Bears (0-6) made 11 three-pointers, shot 47.3 percent from the field overall and had three players score in double figures. But the Trojans (4-1) shot 54.5 percent from the field and made 21 of 25 from the free-throw line to win the first meeting between the teams since 2002.
"We can shoot the ball,' said UCA head coach Russ Pennell. "One of the things we're trying to get across to these guys is, when they will share the basketball, they will get open looks. Jake (Zuilhof) is becoming a factor inside, which forces people to help, which just opens up those jumps shots even more. I think offensively, we've actually exceeded what I thought we would do at this point of the year.
"I've been very disappointed in our defense. One of the staples of the teams I've coached in the past is the defensive end of the floor. Right now, we're really not a very good defensive team. I was definitely not happy with that part of the game.'
The Bears enjoyed as much as a four-point lead midway through the first half, shooting over 50 percent from the field and making 5 of 9 from three-point range, for their best start of the young season. A brief scoring drought by the Bears turned into an 11-0 run for the Trojans and gave UALR its biggest first-half advantage at 42-31 with just more than two minutes left in the half.
UCA answered with a 6-0 run, started by Jake Zuilhof's conventional three-point play, and drew to within 42-37 on Boo Milligan's free throw at the 54-second mark. James White scored for the Trojans, the Bears missed an inside basket while working for the final shot and White made them pay with a three-pointer that beat the buzzer for a 47-37 halftime lead.
Junior guard Mike Martin led the Bears with 12 first-half points, while Zuilhof added 10 points. White had 13 points and Rogers Wood added 12 for UALR.
"Our lapse just before halftime was costly,' said Pennell. "We miss a layup and they get the basketball and kind of throw one at the buzzer. It was a five-point swing. If we make the layup, we're down five. Their big fella makes the three and you look up and you're down 10. I told them at halftime, you played better than being down by 10, but still it's a 10-point deficit.
"Those are the things that good teams just don't do. They complete the plays. I thought we did some but we still have a ways to go.'
The Trojans ran out to as much as a 17-point lead midway through the second half, but the shooting of Martin and freshman guard Jordan Howard brought the Bears back. Howard and Boo Milligan made consecutive three-pointers to fuel an 8-0 UCA run, and Jordan added a lane jumper to cut the lead to 73-64 with 7:26 to play. Jordan scored 12 of UCA's 17 points over an eight-minute span.
After UCA closed it to seven points at 75-68 with 2:15 to play on Zuilhof's inside basket, UALR connected on 8 of 9 free throws to seal it.
Martin finished with a career-high 21 points, going 5 of 7 from three-point range. Howard was 4 of 8 from beyond the arc for 20 points. Zuilhof added 14 points and 7 rebounds, while Martin had a team-high 5 assists.
"Our backcourt has been pretty good,' said Pennell. "We're playing them too many minutes. We're not letting them get enough rest, which I think is taking a way a little bit from their defense. But those two have done a really nice job for us.
"And it's comforting to know as a coach that you have a couple of guys out there who can handle the ball, make shots and run the team. They have both done a nice job of that.'
UCA returns home to the Farris Center on Monday night, hosting in-state rival Arkansas State at 7 p.m.
