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CONWAY, Ark._ The University of Central Arkansas Bears continue ASUN Conference action on Thursday night when they host the Eastern Kentucky Colonels at the Farris Center. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.

    The Bears (5-10, 0-2) are looking for their first conference victory of the season, against a team they beat twice last season in the first meetings between the teams. UCA won the first matchup 79-72 on the road in Richmond, Ky., then beat EKU again 83-76 at the Farris Center.

    UCA shot 50.9 percent overall and went 17 of 19 at the free-throw line in the first game, getting 21 points and 16 rebounds from senior Darious Hall. Collin Cooper made four three-pointers and finished with 18 points. Senior Jared Chatham took over in the second meeting with 36 points and 16 rebounds and the Bears once again were hot from the foul line, going 19 of 22.

    EKU (8-7, 1-1) and UCA have both lost to Kennesaw State on the road in ASUN action this season. The Colonels lost their last game on Monday to the Owls by a score of 79-75.

    UCA is coming off an overtime loss to Florida Gulf Coast on Monday, a game in which five Bears scored in double figures.  UCA, playing without two of its top players in Cooper and sophomore Elias Cato, got career highs of 24 points and 8 rebounds from redshirt freshman V.J. Reeves. Despite making just 14 of 23 free throws, the Eagles made them when it counted, going 7 of 8 at the line in overtime to seal the win.

    EKU is 6-1 at home this season and 1-5 on the road, and had a three-game winning streak broken on Monday at KSU. Devontae Blanton, a 6-foot-6 junior from Macedonia, Ohio, is the Colonels' leading scorer at 15.8  points per game. The Colonels are the top scoring team in the ASUN and 27th in the nation, averaging 81 points per game.

    EKU also averages 10.4 made three-pointers per game and have connected on 156 on the season. UCA allows 7.8 made threes per game. The Bears have had double-figure three-pointers six times this season but not since they made 11 against Oklahoma on Dec. 17.

    The game will be carried live on KUCA 91.3, 92.7 Jack FM and on ESPN+.

    UCA returns to the road on Saturday, taking on the Austin Peay Governors at 4:30 p.m. in Clarksville, Tenn.