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NASHVILLE, Tenn. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears will take on their first of four Power 5 opponents on Friday night when they face the Vanderbilt Commodores.

UCA and Vanderbilt will tip-off at 6 p.m. at Memorial Gymnasium on the SEC+ Network, The Bear 91.3 and 92.7 Jack FM.

The Bears have made one previous trip to the historic Memorial Gymnasium in 2008, losing 83-62. UCA's Marcus Pillow scored 17 points, hitting five three-pointers, while Mitch Rueter added 16 points and Mike Pouncy and Chris Brown had 12 each. Vandy had all five starters in double figures, and one more off the bench, and shot 50.8 percent from the field on its home court.

The Bears are 1-2 after Monday night's tough 85-83 loss to Arkansas-Pine Bluff at home. UCA had two good looks in the final seconds but misfired on both. Junior Elias Cato topped the Bears with 22 points, while freshman Tucker Anderson added 17 and freshman Javion Guy-King had 15. It was the season debut for Guy-King, who missed the first two games due to injury.

UCA, still playing without injured All-Atlantic Sun guard Camren Hunter, outrebounded UAPB 46-30, including 17 offensive boards. For the season, the Bears have a +4.3 rebound margin. UCA has also missed sophomore guard Carl Daughtery, Jr. for two games due to injury.

Vanderbilt is 2-1 on the season, with a surprising 68-62 loss to Presbyterian in the season opener. The Commodores, coached by former North Carolina Tar Heel and NBA player Jerry Stackhouse, have beaten USC-Upstate 74-67 and UNC Greensboro 74-70, both at home.

"I feel good about our chance to compete against Vanderbilt," said Boone. "Now, I'd feel really good if we had Cam and CJ. But still with the group we have, I feel good about us going over there and really giving them a good go."

Boone played at Vanderbilt as a student-athlete at Ole Miss and said the odd configuration of the court makes it a unique experience. The team benches are located on the ends of the court rather than the side.

"It was a confusing place to play," said Boone. "It's going to be very confusing (to coach.) But our guys are a little bit used to coaching themselves on the floor. We've been really working on empowering them and giving them a chance to take more ownership of the program. Hopefully that will come to play.

"We'll practice that this week, standing on the baseline, and work like that this week."

The Bears will be beginning at three-game road trip, which also includes stops at Southeast Missouri on Monday in Cape Girardeau, Mo., and at Kansas State in Manhattan, Kan., on Wednesday, Nov. 22.