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CONWAY, Ark. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears will try to close out their three-game homestand with a win over a tough Stetson Hatters team on Saturday at the Farris Center.

UCA (8-16, 4-4) is one game behind Stetson (13-10, 5-3) in the Atlantic Sun Conference standings with eight games remaining in the regular season. The Bears are in a five-way tie for fourth place with Florida Gulf Coast, Kennesaw State, Lipscomb and North Alabama. UCA has beaten three of those four teams.

The fourth team, FGCU, beat the Bears 82-59 on Thursday night at the Farris Center with a stellar shooting performance, making a season-high 14 three-pointers and shooting 53.2 percent overall. UCA struggled from the field (34.8 percent) and the three-point line (23.1 percent).

The Bears lead the overall series with the Hatters 2-1, with both victories coming in games played in Conway. UCA won the first two meetings in 2022 by a combined five points, including a 74-73 victory in the 2022 ASUN Tournament. Stetson returned the favor last year in UCA's first trip to DeLand, Fla., winning 99-80. The Hatters connected on 15 three-pointers and shot 55.2 percent overall in that one.

Stetson is coming off a 79-72 loss at North Alabama on Thursday in Florence, Ala., when it was outscored 48-37 in the second half. UNA shot 58 percent in the final 20 minutes.

The Hatters, under head coach Donnie Jones, are led in scoring by junior guard Jalen Blackmon, who averages 20.3 points per game, which leads the ASUN. Senior Stephan Swenson also leads the league in assists at 6.3 per game. Aubin Gateretse, a 6-foot-11 junior center, is ranked fourth in blocked shots (1.4) and sixth in rebounding (7.0). Stetson had two players, Blackmon and Alec Oglesby, ranked in the top three in three-point percentage.

The game will be carried live on ESPN+, The Bear 91.3 and 92.7 Jack FM. The start time is approximate because the Sugar Bears host North Florida at 1 p.m.