HAMMOND, La. _ The Southeastern Louisiana Lions put up 54 points in the second half Saturday to down the University of Central Arkansas Bears 89-84 in Southland Conference action at the University Center.

The loss broke UCA's two-game winning streak and gave the Lions (14-10, 8-3) a season sweep of the Bears. The Lions finished with four players in double figures to UCA's three. Senior Mathieu Kamba recorded his seventh career double-double, finishing with a career-high 30 points and 10 rebounds. Senior Jordan Howard heated up in the second half, scoring 18 of his season-average of 25 points in the final 20 minutes.

SLU shot 66.7 percent from the field in the second half, went 7 of 10 from three-point range and made 15 of 19 (78.9 percent) from the free-throw line in the final half.

"I didn't think our defense was very good,' said UCA head coach Russ Pennell. "Teams that shoot 30 percent from three (-point range) shoot 50 percent against us. The resistance on the defensive end wasn't very good. We score 84 points and shoot 58 percent, you're supposed to win the game. Your defense just has to be better, and it just wasn't today and that's what did us in.'

The first half was a battle between Kamba and SLU senior Jordan Capps, who both finished with 18 points at the break. Kamba hit 3 of 4 from three-point range as UCA made 6 of 10 from beyond the arc. Kamba was 7 of 10 overall and added 6 rebounds. Capps was 9 of 13 overall with 4 rebounds.  

The Bears (12-12, 6-5) made three three-pointers before the first media time out and led 15-6 in the opening four minutes. The UCA lead reached as much as 11 points twice before the Lions rode Capps' inside work to get within 43-35 at the break. UCA shot 62.1 percent overall in the opening 20 minutes and held SLU to just 44.1 percent.

The Lions came alive on offense in the seconnd half, getting double figures from Eddy Polanco (19), Joshua Fillmore (18) and Moses Greenwood (13) to go along with Capps' 26 points. For the game, SLU shot 53.4 percent overall, 50 percent from three-point range and 78.3 percent from  the line. The Lions were 18 of 23 and UCA was 7 of 10 on free throws.

"We didn't get to the foul line enough,' said Pennell. "And if you look at it, that's really where the game was lost. They're 18 of 23, we're 7 of 10. But our defense let us down. And we didn't do a very good job against Capps. And then we kind of had to change our strategy a little bit, and play more zone than I wanted to. Not the best day for us on the defensive end.'

Kamba's 30 points topped his previous career high of 28 against Abilene Christian last season and surpassed his season high of 23 points at California. Freshman DeAndre Jones added 10 points, 6 rebounds and five assists for the Bears.

"He's a tough matchup,' Pennell said of Kamba. "He's strong enough to post you up, and we saw that several times, but he's really added to his outside game. He's shooting the ball well, and shot it well all year, stepping out and making those threes. That will put a lot of pressure on the defense. I thought he competed and did what we needed him to do.

"And so did Jordan. I thought early on he was hunting a little bit. I think he kind of took the approach of let my teammates get me open. But he came on and scored a lot of points there late when we needed them.'

The Bears found themselves down by as much as nine points in the second half but a dunk by Kamba and five straight points from Howard kept UCA within five points into the final minute. The Lions scored 15 points at the free-throw line over the final eight minutes to hold off the Bears.

UCA hits the road next Wednesday for its only meeting of the season with Houston Baptist at 7 p.m. before returning home to host McNeese State on Wednesday, Feb. 14. After the HBU trip. the Bears will play four of their final six regular-season games at the Farris Center.