Second-half spurt spurs UCA victory

CONWAY — The University of Central Arkansas used long-range jumpers, fast-break drives, and a stifling defense to take command and pull away from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock for a 69-54 victory at the Farris Center on Saturday night.

UCA (6-5) led 35-30 at the end of the first half, but UALR (2-7) got a three-pointer from junior guard Anthony Black on its first possession of the second half to pull within 3533.

Sparked by senior guard Jordan Howard, senior guard Mathieu Kamba, and freshman center Hayden Koval, UCA responded with a 19-6 run to take command and establish control.

Kamba led UCA with 19 points. Howard scored 18.

Sophomore guard Andre Jones scored 13 points to lead UALR. Junior guard Anthony Black chipped in 10 for the Trojans.

A three-pointer by sophomore guard Darraja Parnell and an 18-foot jump shot by junior forward Tanner Schmit gave UCA a 50-39 lead midway through the second half.

UCA’s lead was 53-39 after Kamba’s three-point play with nine minutes left.

The Trojans scored six consecutive points and were within 53-45 after a layup by freshman forward Damir Hadzic, but UCA scored the next 11 points and led 64-45 after Howard tipped in a missed layup by Kamba with 4:45 remaining.

Neither team took control in a fast-paced first half.

UALR took a 7-2 lead on Jones’ driving layup three minutes in, but UCA tied the score at 7-7 with senior forward Ethan Lee’s 15-foot jump shot at 16:03.

UCA (6-5) had the first lead of more than two points since the early minutes after Howard’s first field goal, a three-pointer, put the Bears in front 20-17 with 8:50 left in the half.

UCA twice had seven-point leads in the first 20 minutes, the final one after a three-pointer by Howard put the Bears up 34-27 with 2:21 left in the half.