CONWAY, Ark. _ The battle of Conway will take place Sunday afternoon when the University of Central Arkansas Bears host the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers in basketball action at the Farris Center.

    The Chanticleers are located in Conway, S.C. and bring an 8-3 record into their first meeting with the Bears (0-9). Tipoff is set for 12:30 p.m.

    The youthful Bears will be playing just their third home game in their first 10 games of the season and are coming off a 76-55 at New Mexico on Wednesday night. The Chanticleers, an NCAA Tournament team last season after winning the Big South Conference Tournament, lost 71-68 at Ole Miss on Thursday night.

    The Chanticleers, coached by former Auburn head coach Cliff Ellis, have three players scoring in double figures, led by senior guard Josh Cameron (14.2 points per game), who has come off the bench in all 11 games this season. Senior guard Warren Gillis averages 11.1, while sophomore guard Shivaughn Wiggins is at 10.5.

    Coastal Carolina has a solid perimeter defense, allowing its opponents to shoot just 28.8 percent from three-point range. That counteracts one of UCA's strengths as the Bears are second in the Southland Conference in three-point shooting at 36.8 percent. The Bears have connected on 74 three-pointers this season, led by freshman guard Jordan Howard's 26 threes.

    Howard leads the Bears in scoring at 16.1 points per game and led five players in double figures in the loss to New Mexico. Junior guard Mike Martin is next at 11.2 points per game and has made 18 three-pointers on the season and is shooting 47.4 percent from beyond the arc, fifth-best in the SLC. 

    After Sunday's game, UCA will take a short holiday break before returning to the Farris Center on Monday, Dec. 29 against Morehead State. SLC play begins on Saturday, Jan. 3 at Abilene Christian.