The University of Central Arkansas Men’s basketball team secured their fifth win in a row, defeating the Eastern Kentucky University Colonels 90-81 at the Farris Center Saturday, January 31.
UCA improved their record to 12-10 overall, and 7-2 in the ASUN with the win. The 7-2 conference record for the Bears marks the best start since UCA began competing at the Division 1 level in 2006.
The Bears leaned on their defensive aggression in the first half to overcome a slow start shooting the ball. UCA held the Colonels to 30% shooting in the first half and forced 10 EKU turnovers.
In what was a back and forth battle through the majority of the opening half, UCA used a 15-3 run over the final four minutes to build a 40-27 advantage going into the halftime break.
After redshirt freshman wing Jayden Harris connected on a three to close the EKU deficit to four early in the second half, junior guard Javion Guy-King would answer with a three of his own, followed by two more from senior guard Camren Hunter for a 9-0 UCA run to put Central Arkansas up 62-51.
The Bears would not see their lead fall below 7 points for the remainder of the game, keeping Eastern Kentucky at arms length for a 90-81 win.
The second half saw the Bears find a rhythm from the three point line, making eight threes to hold off EKU, who made 10 threes of their own in the period.
UCA was able to get to the paint nearly at will in the win, outscoring the Colonels 40-20.
Hunter once again led the way in scoring for the Bears.
After reaching a season high 31 points in the win at Queens University on Wednesday, Hunter topped that output with 32 points on 13-19 shooting Saturday.
With the win and a Queens loss on Saturday, the Bears moved into sole possession of third place in the ASUN standings at the halfway point of conference play.
Despite a season that has surpassed even the most optimistic of expectations, UCA Coach John Shulman and his team are far from satisfied with where they are as a group.
Shulman said “We did not come here for third, we are not happy that we’re in third. We are disappointed that we dropped two overtime games on the road, and we need to make up for it, and we plan on doing that.”
In addition to the game, UCA held its annual pink out and silent auction at the game Saturday to support the fight against cancer.
Shulman spoke of his appreciation for the turnout and how cancer has affected his life personally.
Shulman said “This is an important day. If you haven’t been touched by cancer, you will be touched by cancer. My father passed away 34 years ago from cancer. There’s a bunch of people out there that just came to our game that are struggling with it, and I know that.”
The Bears now look ahead to a midweek clash with the University of North Alabama Lions (7-13, ASUN 2-7) at the Farris Center on Wednesday, February 4, at 6:30 p.m.
All UCA basketball games can be streamed on ESPN+.