HOUSTON _ University of Central Arkansas guards LaQuentin Miles and Lenell Brown combined to score 49 points, but Houston Baptist's balanced attack and decided advantage at the free-throw line carried the Huskies to a 99-83 victory on Saturday night at Sharp Gym.

The win broke a nine-game losing streak for the Huskies (5-21, 2-12) and was just their second victory in their past 18 games. UCA (6-18, 3-10) had beaten HBU 86-69 in the first meeting at the Farris Center on Jan. 4.

The Huskies scored 58 points in the second half _ the most allowed by the Bears this season _ to break open what was a three-point game at halftime. HBU was 28 of 39 from the line in the second half alone, and 32 of 46 for the game. Robert Lewis entered the game averaging 11 points per game but led five Huskies in double figures with 26 points.

"I don't know if we lost our energy in warmups or what,' said UCA head coach Clarence Finley, "but we just couldn't get them going. We seemed like we were a step slow all night. I tried everything I could possibly do, every lineup I could possibly go to. We just couldn't get it done. It was just a long night.'   

The Bears shot just 38.9 percent from the field, including 1 of 9 from three-point range, in the first half but trailed by just three at 41-38. Miles had 13 first-half points to keep UCA in it, while Lewis scored 16 of his career-high 26 points and was two of three from three-point range before halftime.

The Huskies quickly pushed their lead to double digits in the second half and it stayed that way most of the half. UCA got within 71-63 on a Miles jumper with 8:53 to play but would get no closer. The Bears shot 36 percent from the field and 6 of 23 (26.1 percent) from three-point range. HBU shot 54.2 percent overall and outrebounded UCA 51-38.

Miles finished with 27 points, two short of his career high, while Brown bested his career high by 7 points, scoring 20. Freshman DuShaun Rice made 7 of 8 at the free-throw line to finish with 10 points for UCA. Ricmonds Vilde followed Lewis with 18 points, while Caleb Crayton added 13 for HBU.

UCA has an open date Thursday before hosting Oral Roberts at 4 p.m. Saturday at the Farris Center.