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NATCHITOCHES, La. _ At least the University of Central Arkansas Bears know what they have to do Saturday.

They need a victory in their regular-season finale against the Northwestern State Demons at Prather Coliseum to earn one of the 10 berths in next week's Southland Conference Tournament. A loss ends their season. The Bears are attempting to make one final appearance in the SLC Tournament at the Merrell Center in Katy, Texas, before moving on to their new home, the ASUN Conference, in July.

The Bears will carry some momentum into the finale after winning two of their past three games, including an upset of then-No. 1 Abilene Christian on Feb. 27 at the Farris Center, and an 88-71 drubbing of Southeastern Louisiana on Wednesday night in Conway.

The Demons, sitting as the fourth seed entering Saturday's game, held off the Bears 81-77 in the first meeting this season on Jan. 30 at the Farris Center. In that matchup, the Bears overcame a second-half scoring drought of 4:30 to close to within one point twice in the final minute. But a charging call on senior Rylan Bergersen with 1.1 seconds on the clock allowed the Demons to make two final free throws and escape with the win.

The Bears shot 49.2 percent overall but made just 6 of 22 (27.3%) from three-point range. UCA did outscore NSU 42-28 in the paint. Sophomore Collin Cooper led the Bears with a career-high 17 points, making 3 of 6 from three-point range, while Rylan Bergersen added 16 points. Eddy Kayouloud added 12 points, while SK Shittu had 8 points and 11 rebounds. Jared Chatham, who has been on a scoring tear the past several weeks, was held to 5 points and 2 rebounds.

The Demons had four in double figures, including 16 points and 12 rebounds by Jamaure Gregg and 18 points from Trenton Massner.

UCA played one its most complete games of the season on Wednesday against SLU, shooting 56.5 percent overall and sinking a season-high 13 (of 23) three-pointers. The Bears also dominated on the boards with a 43-25 advantage, including 16 on the offensive end. Bergersen led the Bears with 20 points, hitting 4 of 5 from three-point range. Cooper came off the bench and went 4 of 6 from beyond the arc. 

NSU has lost its past two games, at Nicholls and at New Orleans. The Demons will be holding Senior Day activities for six seniors on Saturday. A victory would sew up the fourth seed in the tournament and give the Demons a bye until Thursday. The men's tournament opens play on Tuesday, with the women to follow on Wednesday. UCA has a shot at either the 9th or 10th seed, both of which would play Tuesday.