In a nail-biting match, the UCA men’s basketball team (7-16, 2-8 ASUN) pummeled the North Florida Ospreys (8-14, 3-7 ASUN), obtaining their second conference win.

The matchup was close, sending the game into overtime, where the Bears were finally victorious. 

Coach Brock Widders said, “They scratched, scratched and clawed and didn’t quit… I’m glad they got this. I’m so happy for this.”

The first half started with a three-point shot made four seconds in by North Florida sophomore guard Oscar Berry. 

UCA sophomore guard Camren Hunter took no time to secure two points with a layup in the paint. 

After a missed three-point shot, UCA senior guard/forward Eddy Kayouloud rebounded the ball, allowing UCA junior guard Collin Cooper to bank a three-point shot. 

With a close score of 5-3, the Bears kept the gap as close as possible. 

A minute and a half later, UCA regained possession, and freshman guard VJ Reeves secured a layup, putting the Bears in a one-point lead. 

Reeves refused to stop there, scoring another 4 points for UCA. 

Within the next few seconds, Osprey’s senior guard Dorian James scored a layup, putting the Ospreys’ in the lead, 12-11. 

Following James’ layup, freshman guard Johannes Kirsipuu made a layup in the paint, keeping UCA ahead by one point. 

Almost a minute later, UCA junior guard Masai Olowokere added points to the scoreboard with a jump shot followed up by another three-point shot from Cooper, making the score 18-12. 

The Ospreys had already caught back up, overpowering the Bears and securing a six-point lead.

Following the Ospreys’ advance, there were four minutes of dead time with mixed possession between teams. 

The Ospreys broke the stalemate with five minutes and 56 seconds remaining in the first half. 

A jump shot by Cooper got the Bears moving, making the next few minutes vigorous. 

The last minute made the crowd go wild. 

Kayouloud bagged two free throws and a jump shot by Hunter, putting the Bears only eight points behind the Ospreys, ending the first half 38-30. 

Starting the second half, it only took 30 seconds for Kayouloud to make a jump shot, closing the gap by two points. 

For the next two minutes, North Florida dominated the court, before UCA’s Reeves could make a layup followed by Cooper, leaving the score 42-36 — Bears down.

The Ospreys stayed ahead of the Bears, keeping a ten-point lead until Reeves scored a three-pointer, refusing to let North Florida regain the lead. 

With three minutes left, the Ospreys and Bears had finally leveled the score, 71-71. 

Scoring two extra points for the Bears, Kayouloud made a layup in the paint. 

Both teams fouled each other, resulting in free throws for both teams. 

Hunter completed both free throws, keeping the Bears ahead of the Ospreys by two points. 

After this Ospreys had their chance at free throws, tying the half 77-77, pushing the match into overtime. 

Five seconds in, Kayouloud racked up another layup, giving UCA the upper hand for their last chance. 

The Ospreys took no time at all to secure a three-point shot. 

With a layup by Kayouloud and two free throws by Hunter, the game was tied up once again, 83-83. 

With less than a minute and a half left, UCA kept the gap close.

Hunter scored with a free throw, followed by a layup from Kayouloud. 

With 11 seconds left, James shot two free throws, making both and leaving the score 85-86 — before Hunter sank two free throws.

With only ten seconds to go, the Ospreys were unsuccessful in changing the score, leaving the Bears victorious. The final score was 87-85, Bears up.

Kayouloud said the team was working on its plays to win its next game.

“On the rebounding, maxing out our man and making sure they don’t get a second opportunity to score.”

The UCA men’s basketball team will play Florida Gulf Coast, at 6 p.m., February 2nd, in Fort Myers, Florida.