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CHARLESTON, Ill. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears will try to carry some momentum into a matchup with the Eastern Illinois Panthers at 2 p.m. Sunday at Groniger Arena.

The Bears are coming off a hard-fought 75-71 victory over in-state rival Little Rock on Thursday night at the Farris Center. UCA got a career-high 18 points from graduate Daniel Sofield and made 20 of 22 at the free-throw line to hold off the Trojans, who had won three straight games entering the contest.

The Bears commited just eight turnovers, one game after having only nine in a loss at Hawaii last Saturday.

UCA and EIU will be meeting for the third time, but the first since 2012. The Bears are 2-0 in the series, winning 107-96 in double overtime at the Farris Center in 2011 and 74-72 the next year in Charleston. 

The Panthers are 5-5 this season after consecutive home victories over St. Louis Pharmacy and IUPUI. Four of the Panthers' five victories have come at home this season.

EIU is led in scoring by 6-foot-7 sophomore forward Kooper Jacobi, who averages 12.1 points per game. The Panthers are expected to start two seniors, two juniors and a sophomore. The Panthers have played two ranked teams this season, opening the season at No. 25 Illinois (80-52 loss) and playing at No. 5 Kansas on Nov. 28 (71-63 loss).

A year ago, EIU went 9-22 overall and 5-13 in the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC).

The Bears broke an eight-game losing streak in style Thursday, holding the Trojans to 38.5-percent shooting overall and 29.2 percent (7 of 24) from three-point range. UCA prevailed despite a lopsided deficit in rebounding, as Little Rock had 47 boards (22 offensive) and UCA had 32 total. The Bears finished with eight steals and six blocked shots. Sophomore forward Glory Etim had 7 points, 8 rebounds, 3 blocks and 2 steals.

The rare Sunday matchup will be carried live on The Bear 91.3, 92.7 Jack FM and on ESPN+. Following the game, UCA will have a nine-day break for finals before hosting Western Illinois on Dec. 20 at the Farris Center.