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FLORENCE, Ala. _ Fresh off an Atlantic Sun Conference victory over West Georgia on Wednesday night, the University of Central Arkansas Bears hit the road Friday for a weekend matchup with the North Alabama Lions at CB&S Bank Arena.

The Bears and Lions will tip-off at approximately 7:45 p.m. Saturday, following a women's game between UNA and West Georgia at 5:30 p.m.

The Bears (6-16, 2-7) pulled out a much-needed 75-70 victory over UWG on Wednesday at the Farris Center, breaking a six-game losing streak. The Lions 914-8, 6-3) are coming off an eight-point road loss at Queens on Wednesday, breaking their own three-game winning streak.

UNA, which is 9-1 at home this season, is tied for third in the ASUN standings, behind Jacksonville and Florida Gulf Coast (7-2). The Lions are tied with LIpscomb and Queens at 6-3. UNA is led by 6-foot junior guard Jacari Lane, who averages 16.5 points and has a team-best 96 assists, which ranks fourth in the conference. Senior guard Daniel Ortiz, who transferred to UAB for his junior year and then back to UNA this season, has a team-high 68 three-pointers, which ranks second in the ASUN.

The Bears played their second game on Thursday without  leading scorer Layne Taylor, who will miss the remainder of the season with a shoulder injury. Several players stepped up in the victory, including redshirt freshman Ben Fox, who had a career-high 18 points and made five three-pointers. Freshman Cole McCormick was 3 of 4 from three-point range and scored 11 points.

UCA's lone senior Elias Cato had 17 points, while sophomore Michael Evbagharu had 8 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals. Sophomore Brayden Fagbemi chipped in 7 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists.

The Bears and Lions split their two meetings a year ago, with the visiting winning both games. UCA won 84-81 in Florence, despite the Lions connecting on 14 three-pointers. The Bears got 24 points and five three-pointers from Tucker Anderson in the win. 

In Conway, UNA won 82-78 after going 27 of 28 (96.4 percent) at the free-throw line. Cato led the Bears with a then-career high 23 points and 8 rebounds. The teams combined for 57 free throws, with UCA going 21 of 29.

UCA and UNA will play once more during the regular season, on Monday, Feb. 24 at the Farris Center.