NEW ORLEANS _ The University of New Orleans Privateers started hot and stayed that way in an 87-67 victory over the University of Central Arkansas Bears in Southland Conference play on Monday night at Lakefront Arena.
The Privateers (6-10, 2-5) made their first seven field goal attempts and added a pair of free throws to dominate the opening segment of the game. The Bears found themselves behind 13-0 in less than three minutes and never got back in it. UCA's first basket was a driving layup by Jordan Howard at the 16:30 mark. The Bears managed to get the deficit to single digits once in the first half on Mathieu Kamba's jumper at the 12:34 mark but the Privateers pushed it back to as much as 19 points before settling for a 50-33 halftime lead.
The Privateers shot 69 percent (20 of 29) from the field in the first 20 minutes, while the Bears struggled at 40 percent, hitting just 1 of 7 from three-point range.
The Bears kept the margin around 16 to 20 points for most of the second half, losing the scoring battle by just a 37-34 margin. Four Bears finished in double figures, and all are freshmen. Howard, UCA's leading scorer entering the game and ninth in the SLC, finished with 16 points. Guard Mathieu Kamba was in double figures for the second straight game with 12 points and 6 rebounds, while guard Thatch Unruh hit three three-pointers and added 11 points.
Forward Boo Milligan chipped in 10 points.
"Before you can get better as a team you have to get better as an individual, and there were a couple of guys I thought really stood out tonight,' said UCA head coach Russ Pennell. "No. 1 is Mathieu Kamba. That's two in a row where he's been just a monster out there. He actually agravated his groin early but showed toughness and stayed in there and battled. I thought he played well.
"And I liked Albert's (Christensson) energy tonight, thought that was really good. Both of those guys, the thing I like about them, they put it on themselves. When you challenge them, they don't pout or hang their head. They go out there and try to do what you ask them to do. Guys like that are going to get better.
And then Boo Milligan, where he didn't shoot it very well, I thought he was aggressive. He went to the (free-throw) line 10 times. You never have to doubt Boo's effort. It's going to be really, really good. And of course, Jordan leads us in most games. I just wish he was healthy. He's not himself but he's still making some shots.'
Kevin Brown hit 4 of 5 from three-point range to lead the Privateers with 21 points, while Kevin Hill added 18. The teams combined to shoot 71 free throws and were called for 52 fouls. UCA starting guard Mike Martin fouled out with 7:45 remaining in the game. Travis Thibodaux fouled out for New Orleans.
UCA takes a seven-day break before returning home for a pair of games at the Farris Center. UCA hosts Northwestern State at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 3 and then gets a rematch with New Orleans at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7.
