HUNTSVILLE, Texas _ Don't count out the University of Central Arkansas Bears just yet.

The Bears knocked off No. 1 Sam Houston State 91-87 on Wednesday night on the road to keep their Southland Conference Tournament hopes alive. Sophomore DeAndre Jones connected 6 of 6 at the free-throw line in the final 25 seconds to seal the upset and hand the Bearkats just their second SLC loss of the season on the night they received the SLC regular season trophy. It was UCA's first-ever victory at Johnson Coliseum in 10 tries and just SHSU's second home loss of the season.

Jones led the Bears with 22 points (9 assists), hitting 11 of 11 at the line, and had help from a host of Bears. Sophomore center Hayden Koval scored 16 points, senior Thatch Unruh 14 and freshman Eddy Kayouloud 13. Both Unruh and Kayouloud made 3 three-pointers as UCA went 13 of 27 from beyond the arc (48.1%) for the game.

"I'm excited for how we played,' said UCA head coach Russ Pennell. "I would have loved it even if we hadn't won this tonight, just for the way we played. I'm glad we did win, don't get me wrong. But I could just tell we had the look. But I told them this started Monday in practice. You know, when you come back from a defeat like we had against Abilene Christian, you're not sure what your team is going to do.

"You've got one week to go (in regular season). You have long odds of making your conference tournament. But it just shows the character of these kids, that they came back, and as long as there was a chance, they were going to give everything they could. And I just thought they played outstanding tonight and I was really, really proud of them.' 

UCA, leading 46-38 at halftime, shot a blistering 65 percent in the second half. For the game, UCA was 22 of 25 (88%) while SHSU (20-10, 15-2) was 9 of 12.

UCA sophomore Jared Chatham, who came off the bench to score a career-high 16 points on 7-of-9 shooting. scored consecutive big baskets at the 3:50 and 2:20 marks to help hold off the Bearkats, who had won three straight games and 16 of their past 17. The  Bears, leading 85-84, turned the ball over on an errant pass by Jones but he quickly made amends with  a big rebound on the other end. After Jones made two free throws for an 87-84 lead with 24.3 remaining, he shot in front of a Bearkat for a steal on the other end with 9.2 left.

His next two free throws made it an 89-84 lead before SHSU's Cameron Delaney hit a three-pointer with 4.6 left. Jones then sealed it with two more free throws at the 4.0 second mark.

"There was no question, even when they took the time out,' said Pennell. "I told them, if we make 1 of 2 we're going to foul, But I looked at him and said, 'you're not going to miss are you?' And he said "no sir.' That was the confidence he had to step up and knock those in. And what a big steal down there. That was incredible. It almost looked like they were passing it to him.'

The Bearkats entered the game fifth in the SLC in points allowed at 68.9 per game and third in three-point defense (32.2 percent). UCA's 91 points was the second-most SHSU has allowed this season, and the most in a non-overtime game.

"One of the reasons we redshirted Jared was for these opportunities,' said Pennell. "And now he has two years left. I'm so proud of Jared because of the way he's hung in there. He's had to sit a lot, he's had to watch a lot. And his leash has sometimes been kind of short with me. But I think what he's starting to do is figure out his niche and how he can help this team. And boy he was phenomenal tonight.

"He gave us some really, really big buckets. How about that foul line jumper when we really needed it go give us the lead back. He was calm as he could be and just stepped up and knocked that thing in. We're really thankful for him and how he played tonight.'

Unruh's three three-pointers moved him into third place in career threes at UCA 174, surpassing Rodney Dean (1997-99). He is also now just eight points away from the 1,000-point scoring mark for his career.
 
The Bears close the regular season at Northwestern State on Saturday afternoon in Natchitoches, La., needing a victory to assure a third consecutive trip to the eight-team SLC Tournament at the Merrell Center in Katy, Texas.