CONWAY, Ark. _ In a game of scoring runs, the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers put together the biggest ones at the most opportune times Sunday afternoon to record a 72-55 victory over the University of Central Arkansas Bears in non-conference action at the Farris Center.

    The Chanticleers (9-3) dominated the second half, shooting 50 percent from the field and holding the Bears (0-10) to just 30 percent. UCA was just 9 of 30 after shooting 45.8 percent in the first half, good for a 27-26 halftime lead.

    "I think we took some poor shots and really didn't execute the offense,' said UCA head coach Russ Pennell. "That was the thing that discouraged me the most. Every time out, we just kept talking about letting the offense dictate where the shots were going to be taken. Then I think when we kind of started losing the lead, every guy individually tried his own thing.

    "I don't think it was selfish, I just think it was immaturity. Kind of like 'I'm going to try to get us back in this thing.' And it doesn't work that way.' 

    The Bears got 15 points from freshman guard Jordan Howard in the opening 20 minutes and led by as much as 10 points with 4:30 left in the first half. Coastal Carolina scored 11 of the final 13 points of the half to pull within one at the break. The Bears had 8-0 and 10-0 scoring runs in the first half, while the Chanticleers had scoring droughts of 3:45 and 4:25.

    "We are just so young and have so much to learn,' said Pennell. "When we went on that run and we're up 25-15, the team came over and we were celebrating like we won a national championship. And I told them, the emotion of this little run will wear off, and sure enough by half they're back in it.

    "But that's the first time we've been up 10. It's little things, like learning to handle a 10-point lead in the first half. This is unlike anything I've gone through before, and in many ways its exciting. And it can also be discouraging at times. But the big thing is, they learn something every time we play.'

    The second half was a different story as the Chanticleers used scoring runs of 10-0 and 12-0 to put the Bears away. Coastal Carolina's lead reached double figures at the 8:45 mark. UCA was 1 of 10 from three-point range in the second half, following a 1-for-11 second half performance from beyond the arc in Wednesday's game at New Mexico.

    Howard went scoreless in the second half but still led the Bears with 15 points. Junior center Jake Zuilhof added 12 points for the Bears. Coastal Carolina had three players in double figures, led by Warren Gillis with 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Badou Diagne added 17 points. 

    UCA takes a holiday break before hosting Morehead State on Monday, Dec. 29 at 7 p.m. at the Farris Center.