LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Central Arkansas (7-9, 2-1 ASUN) fell to Bellarmine (6-9, 1-2 ASUN) 84-78 in overtime in a close match-up on Thursday night at Knights Hall. The Bears made 13 three-pointers but were outscored in the paint, 34-22, by Bellarmine.
The first half opened with
Ty Robinson of Central Arkansas making an early 3-pointer, giving the visitors a 3-0 lead. Robinson, who has impressively scored 20 or more in 4 straight games, continued to be an offensive force.
Camren Hunter then extended their advantage to 11-3 with back-to-back 3-pointers, both assisted by Robinson, by the 16:43 mark. Hunter has scored at least 20 points in 2 consecutive games, was crucial in maintaining the Bears' early momentum. Bellarmine responded with a 3-pointer from Kenyon Goodin at 15:36, narrowing the gap to 11-6. The Bears maintained their lead with Hunter and Robinson contributing efficiently from beyond the arc. However, Bellarmine closed the gap, tying the game at 29 with two free throws by Jack Karasinski at 5:18. The Knights then edged ahead, courtesy of a layup from Michael Wilson Jr. at 1:42, ending the half with a narrow 39-38 lead over the Bears.
Central Arkansas edged Bellarmine 33-32 in a closely contested second half, resulting in a 71-71 tie at the end of regulation. Hunter was instrumental for the Bears, scoring consistently with a notable layup at the 1:22 mark to give his team a brief lead. His performance included a career-high total of 10 rebounds, his 10 rebounds and 20 points earned him his first double double of the season and sixth of his career. Jack Karasinski and Brian Waddell contributed key plays for Bellarmine, with Waddell's layup and free throw combination pushing the Knights ahead momentarily. In the final seconds,
Javion Guy-King's 3-pointer tied the game, setting the stage for overtime after a dramatic close to the half.
Bellarmine edged out Central Arkansas in a closely contested overtime. Goodin's three-pointer at 3:34 gave Bellarmine a slight advantage, which was quickly countered by
Cole McCormick's layup for the Bears, narrowing the gap to one point. Donovan Hunter's three-pointer at 2:41 extended Bellarmine's lead, but Robinson responded with a three-pointer, keeping the Bears within striking distance.
Ty Robinson, who also recorded a career-high total of 9 rebounds, continued to battle fiercely in the extra period. With 48 seconds remaining, the Knights again connected from beyond the arc to push Bellarmine ahead. Late free throws from Tyler Doyle and Sam Donald secured Bellarmine's 84-78 lead by the end of overtime.
Ty Robinson
- 24 points
- 5/5 free throws made
- 5 assists
- 9 rebounds
Camren Hunter
- 20 points
- 2 steals
- 10 rebounds
Javion Guy-King
- 18 points
- 4/7 three-pointers made
- 7 rebounds
The next challenge for the Bears sees them traveling to face Eastern Kentucky on Saturday, Jan. 10. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. in Richmond, Kentucky.
