KATY, Texas — After claiming back-to-back titles in 2016 and 2017, Central Arkansas returns for its 8th consecutive Southland Conference Tournament in 2018, seeking to become the first team to win the tournament crown three years in a row since Stephen F. Austin won five straight from 1998-2002.

The 3rd-seeded Sugar Bears begin their Postseason Run presented by First Security Bank in the quarterfinals on Friday at 1:30pm against No. 7 Abilene Christian, eyeing a date with 2nd-seeded SFA on Saturday. Friday's game can be seen on ESPN3, available on WatchESPN and the ESPN app, and heard on The Bear 91.3 with pregame beginning 20 minutes prior to tipoff.

Central Arkansas (21-8, 14-4 Southland) started the tournament with an opening-round bye by virtue of finishing third in the Southland regular-season standings, meanwhile ACU (16-13, 9-9) – playing in its first-ever Southland tournament after becoming Division I postseason eligible for the first time following its reclassification period from Division II – defeated 6th-seeded New Orleans 88-66 on Thursday.

It will be the third meeting of the season between the Sugar Bears and Wildcats, with the Sugar Bears sweeping the two regular season meetings – winning 63-45 in Conway on Jan. 20 and 73-61 on Feb. 24 in Abilene.

In Friday's rout of New Orleans, ACU outscored the Privateers 58-37 in the 2nd half after holding a one-point halftime lead and finished the game making 12 3-pointers, going 12 of 26 (46.2 percent) including 8-of-11 (72.7 percent) in the 2nd half.

The Sugar Bears have shot 50.5 percent (52 of 103) from the field this season against the Wildcats, with much of the production coming from senior forwards Taylor Baudoin and Kierra Jordan. In the two meetings, Baudoin averaged 24 points and 7.5 rebounds, scoring 24 points in both games; while Jordan averaged 17.5 points and 10.5 rebounds including a dominant 23-point, 16-rebound outing in Conway.

In their previous seven trips to Katy, the Sugar Bears have compiled a 6-5 record and have made three championship games appearances, also reaching the title game in 2011 before winning each of the last two seasons.

The Sugar Bears lead the series with the Wildcats 5-2 and have won the last three. It will be their first-ever postseason meeting.

 FOLLOW
• Watch on ESPN3 via WatchESPN or the ESPN App
• Postgame press conference live on  Southland Digital Network
• Radio broadcast on The Bear 91.3 and streaming online with pregame beginning at 1:10
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