The UCA men’s basketball team (6-15, 1-7 ASUN) suffered its sixth conference loss against the North Alabama Lions (11-10, 3-5 ASUN), ending with a score of 73-78.
Although the Bears fumbled the win, it wasn’t all doom and gloom as sophomore guard Camren Hunter achieved the fourth triple-double in UCA history, earning 20 points, 11 assists and 12 rebounds.
“It’s a blessing, but it would’ve been better if we won the game. I feel like it’s a good step in the right direction. All we can do is build on it,” Hunter said.
The Bears took control of the court for a majority of the first half, stumbling in the final two minutes.
The Lions opened the game with a jump shot by sophomore guard Daniel Ortiz 35 seconds in.
UCA responded vigorously as junior guard Masai Olowokere pulled a fastbreak, following up with a dunk.
As if that entrance wasn’t enough, the Bears doubled down with a three-pointer by Hunter only 31 seconds later.
North Alabama continued to hold the lead with two jump shots by junior guard KJ Johnson and sophomore forward Dallas Howell, the Bears turning the tides with a jump shot by freshman guard Johannes Kirsipuu.
UCA gradually began to dominate the court as junior guard Collin Cooper scored two three-pointers, Olowokere scoring one as well.
Although the Bears were racking up three-pointers, North Alabama stayed swift, Ortiz scoring his first three-pointer of the night.
With the Bears barely in the lead, 18-17, Olowokere widened the gap with two three-pointers only 29 seconds apart.
Freshman guard Jacari Lane tried to push North Alabama forward with a jump shot and layup, only to be met with a fast-break layup by Hunter.
The Bears continued to add points to the scoreboard with a layup by senior guard/forward Eddy Kayouloud and a three-pointer from Kirsipuu.
Freshman guard Carl Daughtery Jr. earned the Bears their biggest lead yet with nine points following a fastbreak three-pointer.
With only a minute and 15 seconds remaining in the first half, North Alabama drove past the Bears, sophomore guard Will Soucie and Lane scoring the Lions two three-pointers.
Lane secured the Lions one last layup with two seconds remaining, ending the first half at 37-37.
Junior guard Collin Cooper leaps for a lay up near the end of the second half. UCA lost to the North Alabama Lions with a score of 78-73.
The first minute of the second half remained scoreless until Cooper put the Bears back in the lead with a free throw, quickly adding to that with a fastbreak three-pointer.
UCA took charge once again with a six-point lead following two free throws by Hunter.
The Lions began closing the gap nearly two minutes later with two layups from freshman forward Bryson Dawkins, the Bears only one point ahead.
With 10 minutes and 34 seconds remaining in the second half, North Alabama took the lead 53-52 after Ortiz was able to sink two three-pointers.
Hunter began to push the Bears to the finish line with a three-pointer and two free throws, giving UCA a five-point lead.
With under four minutes left in the game, Soucie propelled the Lions past the Bears with two jump shots.
As the Bears struggled to find ground, North Alabama pushed forward to a six-point lead following two free throws by Johnson.
Despite Olowokere bagging another three-pointer, it wasn’t enough to catapult UCA toward the victory, the match ending 78-73 in North Alabama’s favor.
Coach Brock Widders said, “We have to be a little more poise. We have to finish out that half a little better and that’s as a collective group, from the coaching staff to the manager, to the player. We’ve got to finish out the first half and be more mature.”
The Bears’ next game will be against the North Florida Ospreys at 7 p.m. Jan. 26 at home.