CONWAY, Ark. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears have one more chance at a victory in their final non-conference matchup before the Southland Conference season begins next weekend.
UCA (0-10) hosts Morehead State at 7 p.m. Monday at the Farris Center. The Eagles (4-10) have also struggled this season, bringing a six-game losing streak to Conway.
The youthful Bears, under first-year head coach Russ Pennell, have been off for seven days since a 72-55 home loss to Coastal Carolina on Dec. 21. Monday's game with Morehead will be just the fourth home game in 11 this season for the Bears. SLC play opens Jan. 3 with the Bears on the road again at Abilene Christian.
UCA, the most prolific three-point shooting team in the SLC, is coming off its worst three-point shooting outing of the season. The Bears made just 5 of 20 (25 percent) against the Chanticleers, including 1 of 10 from beyond the three-point line in the second half when UCA was outscored 46-28.
UCA is first in the conference in three-pointers made at 7.9 per game and second in three-point percentage at 35.7 percent. Junior guard Mike Martin is third in three-point percentage (47.4) but was held scoreless with only two shot attempts against Coastal Carolina. Freshman guard Jordan Howard is ranked first in threes made per game (2.9) and third in percentage (35.7). He also leads the Bears in scoring at 16.0 points per game.
The Eagles, coached by former Kentucky star Sean Woods (1989-92), have close losses this season at UNLV, Cincinnati and Louisiana Tech, and have victories over Marshall and Presbyterian. Only one Eagle is scoring in double figures _ Angelo Warren at 13.3 ppg _ but eight players average at least five points per game.
Morehead, from the Ohio Valley Conference, is coming off an even longer break than UCA, having last played on Dec. 19, an 83-60 loss at home against Northern Kentucky. The Eagles are much more experienced than the Bears and are expected to start three seniors and two juniors Monday night.
UCA counters with just one returning player from last year's squad and 10 newcomers to the Bears' roster.
