HOUSTON _ The Houston Baptist Huskies connected on 27 of 30 from the free-throw line Monday night in downing the University of Central Arkansas Bears 84-61 in Southland Conference action at Sharp Gymnasium.

    UCA had four players in double figures and led early in the game but shot just 43.1 percent from the field on the night to remain winless on the season. Junior center Jake Zuilhof topped the Bears with 15 points, while junior guard Mike Martin added 14. 

    The Bears made 7 of 19 (36.8) percent from the three-point line but it was not enough to overcome a 27-10 deficit from the free-throw line and a 42-19 margin in rebounding for the Huskies. HBU, the second-best rebounding team in the SLC, dominated that facet of the game and outscored the Bears 18-2 on second-chance points. 

    The Huskies took advantage of the Bears' fouls in the first half  by hitting 16 of 16 at the line to take a 39-22 halftime lead. The Bears shot just 3 of 5 from the line and shot just 36.4 percent overall from the field in the opening half. The Bears held an 11-8 lead at the 14:18 mark but were outscored 31-11 the remainder of the half. Zuilhof led UCA at halftime with seven points, while Jordan Howard and Thatch Unruh had five each.

     The Huskies (8-8, 3-3) pushed their lead to as much as 24 points midway through the second half before UCA cut the deficit back down to 19 points on Martin's layup with 4:50 to play. But Josh Ibarra scored twice for the Huskies in the final minute to set the final at 23 points.

    Unruh, a freshman from Branson, Mo., fnished with 11 points, while Howard added 10. Unruh and freshman Albert Christensson both finished with four fouls each, while Zuilhof, Martin and Boo Milligan had three apiece.    

    HBU center Ricmonds Vilde had 10 points and 10 rebounds off the bench for the Huskies. Guard Anthony Odunsi topped HBU with 15 points, hitting 9 of 10 free throw attempts, while three others scored in double figures.
    
    UCA returns home to the Farris Center to face the Nicholls Colonels at 4 p.m. Saturday as part of a doubleheader with the Sugar Bears.