TROY, Ala. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears enjoyed their first halftime lead of the young season Saturday afternoon but could not sustain the momentum in the second half in an 85-73 loss to the Troy Trojans at Trojan Arena.
The Bears (0-8) grabbed that lead at the break by shooting 58.6 percent overall from the field, hitting 4 of 8 from three-point range and dominating the rebounding 15-9. Freshman guard Jordan Howard had 16 of his team-high 21 points _ including a pair of three-pointers _ by halftime. He scored the Bears' final five points of the half to give UCA a 42-39 advantage.
But the Bears, playing their sixth road game, came out of the locker room and shot just 33.3 percent from the field in the second half (3 of 16 from three-point range) and sent the Trojans (3-3) to the free-throw line 15 times. Troy shot 60 percent from the field, hit 11 of 15 at the line and made 5 of 9 from three-point range in the final 20 minutes.
"We're gaining on it,' said first-year UCA head coach Russ Pennell. "But it's still disheartening when you have a chance to win a game and you don't close the deal. But I was proud of our fight, especially coming off the way we played on Monday. And having the lead at half was something new. And I thought we came out and responded the second half pretty well, honestly, which was another big factor.
"We're getting better. And right now, that's all we have to really hang out hat on. It's still tough to absorb the loss, but I'm proud of my team today.'
The Bears, coming off a 67-49 loss to Arkansas State on Monday at the Farris Center, extended their lead in the first 1:30 of the second half as junior forward Joel Fiegler and junior guard Mike Martin got quick baskets. But the Trojans got consecutive three-pointers by senior guard Musa Abdul-Aleem to take the lead for good at the 17:40 mark.
After falling behind by as much as seven points, the Bears rallied one more time to get to within two points twice on three-pointers by Howard and freshman forward Boo Milligan. But Troy pulled away for good in the final five minutes to avenge last year's loss to the Bears at the Farris Center
"I think they did a little bit better job defensively in the second half,' said Pennell. "I think they got physical with us. There were a number of times we drove to the hole and got fouled. And part of that was not being strong enough to take care of ourselves. And I thought they forced us out a little bit. They did a nice job of guarding us in the seconnd half and we didn't shoot it as well.'
Howard, a freshman from Chandler, Ariz., tied his career high with 21 points. Junior center Jake Zuilhof had a career high 16 (7 of 10 shooting), while Milligan added 15 points, including three three-pointers off the bench.
"One of the reasons I've kept Boo in that role is, he's one of the few guys who comes in and brings the energy consistently,' said Pennell. "Some might say, why don't you start him and get off to a good start. Well, I thought we got off to a pretty good start, and I thought he came in and added to what we were doing. I think he's getting real comfortable in that sixth-man role.
"I really like the way he's playing. He takes coaching really well, and that's one of the things I like. You tell him something to improve upon and he tries real hard to do it.'
Kevin Thomas topped the Trojans with 22 points and 11 rebounds, while Abdul-Aleem had 19 and Wesley Person Jr., son of former Auburn and NBA player Wesley Person, added 12 points.
The Bears will take an extended break with final exams next week. UCA returns to action on Wednesday, Dec. 17 at New Mexico in Albuquerque. Tipoff is 9 p.m. (CST).
