WEST POINT, N.Y. _ A 15-point halftime deficit was too much for the University of Central Arkansas Bears to overcome Saturday night in a 75-64 loss to the Chattanooga Mocs at Christl Arena in the Maui Jim Invitational.

    The Mocs (3-1) shot 51.6 percent from the field in the first half to open as much as a 21-point lead over the Bears (0-3). UCA fought back and outscored UTC 40-36 in the second half and cut the deficit to 10 points or less three times in the final minute before falling.

    The Bears and Mocs were tied at 16-16 at the 9:38 mark of the first half before Chattanooga outscored UCA 23-8 to end the half and gain what would turn out to be an insurmountable lead. 

    "It's just interesting the lulls that we have and how they cost us when you play a good team, and this team won 29 games last year,' said UCA head coach Russ Pennell. "We're possibly gaining on it, but I told the guys, that's not good enough. We have to respond to people's runs with runs of our own, and we didn't do that today, and in that I'm disappointed. 

    "But I was proud of their effort in the second half, not quitting and putting their head down. In the second half, I thought our defense was outstanding. It was as good as it's been. They shot 35 percent in the second half but they were 2 for 12 from the three-point line. The second half, our defense was solid.

    "But when you're that far behind, and you start catching up, your margin for error is just so thin. And there were a couple of times I thought we had some momentum and we either fouled at the other end or gave up an easy bucket. We still do some things that kind of baffle you, that you scratch your head over, but I think we're gaining on it. I think we're much more competitive than we've ever been  and now we just have to get over the hump.'

    UCA, playing one of its top offensive weapons in senior guard Derreck Brooks, who was out with a concussion, still had four players in double figures. Junior guard Jordan Howard led the way with 16 points, hitting a three-pointer for the 43rd consecutive game. Senior guard Jeff Lowery played a season-high 32 minutes and added 12 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists. Junior guard Mathieu Kamba had 12 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists
    
    Two bright spots off the bench were sophomore Otas Iyekekpolor, who scored 11 points and had 7 rebounds, both career highs, and freshman guard Darraja Parnell with 7 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists.

    "I'm really proud of both of those guys,' Pennell said. "In fact, all three of our bigs (Iyekekpolor, Tanner Schmit, Albert Christensson) played well. I thought they played with energy and effort and urgency. We challenged them this week to do that. Otas had an outstanding game. His mom came down from Canada and got a chance to see him play. I think that's the first college game she's seen him play.

    "And then I thought Darraja was outstanding. He gets better and better every game. He's a gamer, he's a competitor. I think as he gets more and more experienced, we're going to be able to rely on him even more. But the fact that we can go to the bench and bring in a couple of guys like that is really good.'

    UCA will face the host Army-West Point Black Knights at 1:30 Sunday. Army lost to Arkansas State 60-57 in Saturday's other game.