NACOGDOCHES, Texas _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears had two shots at the end of regulation Wednesday night that would have beaten Stephen F. Austin on its home court for the first time.
Neither went in and the Bears eventually fell 105-99 to the Lumberjacks in overtime to drop to 5-4 in Southland Conference play. The Bears were trying to end a 0 for 9 streak against SFA in Nacogdoches, and came oh so close to doing it. UCA made 14 of 33 from three-point range and got a career-high 29 points from sophomore point guard DeAndre Jones.
However, the Lumberjacks (11-8, 4-3) outscored the Bears 18-12 in the extra period, hitting a pair of three-pointers and eight free throws to seal it. For the game, the Bears were just 23 of 35 at the free-throw line (65.7 percent) after entering the game as the conference's third-best shooting team at the line. Still the Bears had two shots at the victory in the final 2.5 seconds.
"I like the fact that there's a bunch of disappointed guys in that locker room,' said UCA head coach Russ Pennell. "That's the way they ought to feel. But they need to understand how well they played tonight, they really did. You know, they went toe to toe with a really good team.
"I thought it just came down to some plays that you have to make in order to win. You have to make free throws, and you have to make that last play. And that's not blaming anyone, that's just how basketball goes. Mondy (Matthew Mondesir) tips it in at Southeastern, we win. We miss the one tonight and we lose. That's the basketball gods evening it our a little bit.
"Again, we had an opportunity and that's what you want. What we have to do is make this the standard as to how we play and then you don't have an Abilene (game). I think we're figuring out how hard we have to play all the time, and when we do, we're a pretty good team.'
The Bears trailed 47-46 at halftime after connecting on 8 of 18 from three-point range in the opening 20 minutes. Jones had 13 points (3 of 6 from three-point range) and Matthew Mondesir had 11 (2 of 4). SFA junior Kevon Harris kept the Lumberjacks in the game, hitting 4 of 4 from three-point range and scoring 20 points. Harris would finish with game highs of 33 points and 16 rebounds and was 4 of 5 from the arc. Davonte Fitzgerald, who scored SFA's first 10 points of the game, added 29 points and went 5 of 8 from three-point range.
The Bears fell behind by seven points early in the second half but fought back to lead numerous times down the stretch. The latest was after a Jones three-pointer with 1:25 left to play. The Lumberjacks got a pair of free throw from Shannon Bogues and an inside basket from Nathan Bain to tie it at 87-87. Eddy Kayouloud's three-point attempt from the right corner was blocked out of bounds, giving the Bears one last shot with 2.5 left.
Thatch Unruh inbounded from in front of the UCA bench to Koval, who drove the baseline and put up a short jumper. Kayouloud got the rebound on the other side of the rim but his tip rimmed out as well, sending the Bears to their first overtime of the season. UCA took a 95-93 on Koval's tip in with 2:12 left but Fitzgerald nailed a three-pointer and the 'Jacks never trailed again. Jones fouled out with 1:20 left and the Bears scored just four more points.
The Lumberjacks made 6 of 8 at the free-throw line in the final 40 seconds to seal it.
Jones filled up his boxscore with 29 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists and 6 steals. Mondesir added 16 points and 6 assists, while Unruh had 16 points and Koval 11. The Bears made double-figure three-pointers for the eighth time this season, with Jones leading the way with five and seven different players making at least one.
"He (Jones) came out and kind of had that feel that he had earlier in the year, and that was good to see that,' said Pennell. "And Mondy stepped up, and I saw that yesterday in practice that he was ready to go. I thought he played exceptionally well. And SK (Shittu) had a nice game. He is kind of figuring it out.'
The Bears return home for three straight games, beginning Saturday when they host the Northwestern State Demons at 4 p.m. as part of a doubleheader with the Sugar Bears.
