LIVE AUDIO
LIVE VIDEO
LIVE STATS

CONWAY, Ark. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears open a new era of basketball when they take on the Saint Louis Billikens on Tuesday night.

UCA, which will be competing in the ASUN Conference this season, opens the 2021-22 schedule on the road at 7 p.m. at Chaifetz Arena on ESPN+ and Bally Sports Southwest+, as well as The Bear 91.3.

The Bears return 11 players from last year's squad, including two graduates in forward Jared Chatham (6-8, 185) and forward SK Shittu (6-9, 225) Chatham started 22 games a year ago and averaged 9.0 points and a team-best 6.9 rebounds. Sophomore guard Collin Cooper (6-2, 190) returns after he was limited to just nine games last season due to injury. In those nine games, which included five starts, he averaged 10.8 points and 1.8 assists. 

Joining that pair in the expected starting lineup are sophomore guard/forward Jaxson Baker (6-7, 205), freshman guard Camren Hunter (6-3, 200) and transfer guard/forward Darious Hall (6-7, 205). Baker started seven times in 23 games last season and closed the season with 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting from three-point range against Northwestern State in the season finale.

Hunter, from Bryant (Ark.) High School, brings a strong point guard mentality to the Bears after the transfer of DeAndre Jones, who ironically is now playing for the Billikens. Hunter, an All-State selection, averaged 22 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4 assists for the Hornets, who advanced to the Class 6A quarterfinals last spring. 

Hall is a former All-Stater and four-star recruit from Little Rock (Ark.) Mills High School who transferred to UCA from DePaul. Hall, who began his career at the University of Arkansas where he played in 35 games as a freshman, played in 32 games at DePaul and was named to the Big East All-Academic team. He led the Comets to a 31-2 record and the 5A state championship as a senior, earning the tournament Most Valuable Player award.

Other returnees include sophomore guard Lewis McDaniel (6-3, 180), sophomore guard Masai Olowokere (6-5, 195), junior forward Eddy Kayouloud (6-7, 230), freshman guard Brendan Simmons (6-2, 195), freshman center Jonas Munson (7-0, 220), freshman guard Trey South (6-3, 170) and freshman center Churchill Bounds (6-10, 260). Kayouloud averaged double figures with 10.5 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. 

The Bears lost three of their top six scorers from last year's team but still return 49 points per game and 25.9 rebounds per game. UCA shot36.3 percent from three-point range a year ago, including 34 by Baker, 22 by Kayouloud and 19 from Cooper.

The Billikens, under the direction of head coach Travis Ford, went 14-7 last season (12-1 at home) and lost to Mississippi State in the first round of the NIT. They played in the NCAA Tournament in 2019. SLU has won two exhibitions games over the past two weeks, against Rockhurst and Lindenwood, topping 80 points in both.

The Billikens lost their leading scorer Javonta Perkins to a season-ending injury two weeks ago.

UCA will continue its opening road trip at Bulter on Friday and at defending national champion Baylor next Wednesday. ASUN play will begin on Jan. 4 when the Bears take on Eastern Kentucky in Richmond, Ky.