CONWAY, Ark. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears, fresh off the toughest non-conference schedule in school history, open a new season on Saturday when they begin Southland Conference at the Farris Center.

    UCA hosts Sam Houston State at approximately 4 p.m., following the Sugar Bears' matchup with Lamar at 2 p.m.

     The Bearkats (9-5) were the preseason favorite to unseat defending champion Stephen F. Austin, but opened SLC play Thursday night with a home loss against Houston Baptist by a score of 79-65. Sam Houston shot just 3 of 21 (14.3 percent) from three-point range and made just 10 of 19 (52.6) from the free-throw line compared to 27 of 34 for the Huskies (5-6). HBU outscored SHSU 53-35 in the second half to erase a four-point halftime deficit.

    UCA (1-12) is also coming off a disappointing 98-62 loss at Pac-12 Arizona State in their last outing on Dec. 22. In that game, the Bears shot just 3 of 24 from three-point range for a season-low 12.5 percent. Junior Mathieu Kamba had his second double-double of the season with 13 points and 15 rebounds, which tied his career high.
    
    The Bears' leading scorer, junior guard Jordan Howard, struggled from the perimeter, hitting just 3 of 14 from beyond the arc for 13 points. Senior guard Jeff Lowery led the Bears with 15 points and 4 assists against the Sun Devils.

    The Bearkats lead the overall series with the Bears 15-1, with UCA's only win coming in February 2014 at the Farris Center. SHSU swept the series last season, winning 105-75 at Johnson Coliseum in Huntsville, Texas, then taking the rematch 83-73 at the Farris Center. In the second game, the teams combined for 54 personal fouls and 58 free throws.
      
    The Bears are just 1-9 in Southland Conference openers since moving to NCAA Division I and joining the league in 2006-07. UCA beat UT-Arlington 70-68 in overtime in the 2007-08 conference opener.
    
    UCA, which has faced opponents with a combined record of 96-59 during non-conference play, will also host the Lamar Cardinals at 8 p.m. Monday night in SLC action. The Bears' opponents so far include No. 14 Wisconsin (12-2) and No. 13 Butler (11-2), as well as Oklahoma State (10-2), Michigan (10-3) and Arkansas State and Little Rock, both 9-4. Eleven of the 13 games have been on the road.

       Howard, a junior from Chandler, Ariz., broke the UCA career three-point record two games ago and now has 213 career threes with a a season and a half remaining. He leads the Bears in scoring at 17.5 points per game, is second in the SLC in free-throw percentage at 93.6 percent and leads the conference in three-pointers made per game at 3.2 and total three-pointers at 41. 

    Kamba, from Calgary, Alberta, is UCA's top rebounder at 7.2 per game, which ranks sixth in the league. He also leads UCA in field-goal percentage, making 46.6 percent of his field goal attempts. Lowery has the team lead in assists, averaging 3.0 per game. Fellow senior Derreck Brooks is the Bears' leader in blocked shots at 1.3 per game, while Howard is tops in steals at 1.5.

    The Bearkats, as has been the case in recent years, have just two players scoring in double figures, but feature seven players who average at least five points per game. Dakari Henderson is scoring at a 11.5 clip, while Aurimas Majauskas is next at 10.3. SHSU's leading rebounder is Torry Butler at 7.0 per game. 

    The Bearkats, who lost 90-56 to Arkansas last week at Verizon Arena in North Little Rock, were picked first in both the preseason SLC polls, followed by perennial champion Stephen F. Austin.