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CONWAY, Ark. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears will return to the court on Wednesday when they host the Western Illinois Leathernecks as part of a midday doubleheader with the Sugar Bears at the Farris Center.

UCA and WIU will tip-off at noon on Scottie Pippen Court.

The game will be the first for the Bears in 10 days since a 73-70 victory at Eastern Illinois on Dec. 10. It was UCA's second consecutive victory following a 75-71 win over in-state rival Little Rock on Dec. 7.

The Bears (3-9) will play four more non-conference games before Atlantic Sun Conference play begins on Jan. 6 at North Alabama. UCA will followed the WIU game with tough Power 5 matchups at Oklahoma (Dec. 28) and Missouri (Dec. 30) and at home against Champion Christian on Jan. 3.

The Leathernecks (6-6) beat NCAA Division III Eureka College 92-56 on Monday night after a nine-day break of their own. Western Illinois also has victories over St. Ambrose, Southern University, Hannibal-LaGrange, Coe College and Green Bay this season. The losses were to UTSA, SMU, Valparaiso, Illinois, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

WIU is led in scoring by junior guard James Dent, Jr., who averages 14.7 points per game. The Leathernecks have an imposing presence inside in 6-foot-11, 230-pound senior Drew Cisse, who averages 8.8 points, an NCAA-leading 11.9 rebounds and 2.3 blocked shots a game. As a team, the Leathernecks are shooting 42.9 percent overall, 30.5 percent from three-point range and just 59.5 percent from the free-throw line.

WIU, which plays in the Ohio Valley Conference, is 1-5 on the road this season. The game will be UCA's third straight game against an OVC opponent and fourth of the season, including a two-point loss at Southeast Missouri on Nov. 20. 

UCA tied its season high with 13 three-pointers in its last outing at Eastern Illinois. The Bears also went 12 of 12 at the free-throw line and got 16 rebounds from sophomore center Glory Etim.

Freshman Tucker Anderson leads the Bears in scoring at 14.5 points per game, while Etim is the top rebounder (8.9) and sophomore Johannes Kirsipuu is the top assist man (5.3). The Bears have made an even 100 three-pointers this season, led by Anderson's 31, and shoot 34.7 percent from beyond the arc.

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