CONWAY, Ark. _ The Arkansas State Red Wolves converted 7 of 8 at the free-throw line in the final minute to hold off the University of Central Arkansas Bears 89-77 on Friday night in front of a crowd of 1,942 at the Farris Center.
UCA (1-10) grabbed a 59-55 lead early in the second half behind a furious 18-6 run, capped by a three-pointer by senior Derreck Brooks. But the Red Wolves, who improved to 9-2 with the victory, outscored the Bears 34-17 from there to grab the win.
The Red Wolves connected on 10 of 27 from three-point range, including 6 of 14 (42.9 percent) in the second half. UCA was 7 of 19 (36.8 percent) from beyond the arc and had four players in double figures. UCA head coach Russ Pennell played a young lineup for most of the final six minutes of the game and that group cut a 14-point deficit to as little as seven points with 2:10 remaining.
But from there, the Bears were forced to foul and the Red Wolves converted all but one of the attempts for the 12-point final margin.
The Bears led 8-5 after the first three minutes of the game but ASU scored the next 13 points to take an 18-8 lead. Junior guard Jordan Howard nailed a three-pointer with 29 seconds left to get UCA back within 42-39 before ASU's C.J. Foster made a layup at the buzzer to give the Red Wolves a 44-39 advantage at the break.
ASU shot 51.4 percent from the field in the first half, while UCA came in at 40 percent. Devin Carter, the Red Wolves' leading scorer, had 14 at the break and Deven Simms added 10. Carter, who set a school record with 10 three-pointers in ASU's win over UT Martin on Wednesday, was 4 of 13 on Friday.
UCA had four players in double figures, led by Brooks with 12 points. Howard and senior guard Jeff Lowery tallied 11 points each and freshman Darraja Parnell added 10. Junior forward Mathieu Kamba finished with 11 rebounds, tying his season high. Sophomore Thatch Unruh had a season-high 9 points and junior Ethan Lee added a season-high six points for the Bears. UCA shot 51.6 percent from the field in the second half and 45.9 percent for the game.
Howard was 2 of 5 from three-point range, making a three-pointer for the 51st consecutive game and scored in double figures for the 65th time in 68 career games.
The Bears, who were playing just their second home game of the season on Friday, hit the road again next week, playing at Morehead (Ky.)State on Monday and at Arizona State in Tempe, Ariz., on Thursday. UCA opens Southland Conference play on Saturday, Dec. 31 at home against Sam Houston State.
