CONWAY, Ark. – Little Rock needed another second half rally, but this time, it didn't come as the Trojans dropped a 69-54 decision to Central Arkansas at the Farris Center Saturday night. The loss drops Little Rock to 2-7 on the season and 0-4 on the road while the Bears improve to 6-5 overall.
Trailing by five at halftime, the Trojans saw UCA put together the second half run that Little Rock used to put the Bears away last week. Little Rock was plagued by a cold shooting night, hitting just 28.3 percent of its shots, including making just six of 23 three-point attempts.
Andre Jones once again paced the Trojans, finishing with 13 points and seven rebounds, followed by 10 points for
Anthony Black. The duo was the only two among the nine Little Rock scorers that finished in double digits as
K.J. Gilmore nearly joined the group, finishing with a career-high nine points.
Jaizec Lottie posted seven points and six rebounds with a team-high three assists as
Cezanne Carson added a career-high seven rebound for Little Rock.
Oliver Black led the Trojans with nine boards but finished with just one point before becoming the first Trojan to foul out this season.
Little Rock benefitted from a cold shooting night from Central Arkansas as the Bears hit just five of their 25 three-point attempts, but UCA offset that by outscoring the Trojans 26-18 in the paint, just the second time this season Little Rock has come up short in that statistic.
After falling behind by 16 in the first half in the team's first meeting 10 days ago, Little Rock wanted to ensure it didn't fall into the same trap, racing out to a 7-2 lead in the opening three minutes. Central Arkansas responded as the Bears and Trojans battled back and forth through the opening 10 minutes.
UCA slowly began to open a lead on the Trojans over the final 10 minutes, leading by as many as seven at 34-27 off a Jordan Howard three with 2:21. Little Rock would answer with three free throws down the stretch, trailing by five at the half at 35-30.
After a pair of big runs to start the second half in the last two games, Little Rock stumbled out of the gates in Conway, hitting just one of its first 13 shots as it fell behind by 13 at 48-35 at the midway point of the half.
Little Rock started to get some life back, courtesy of back-to-back dunks from Jones with just over eight minutes remaining, including slamming down a rebound off a three-point attempt that brought the crowd at the Farris Center to its feet.
But a second half comeback for the third-straight game wasn't in the cards for Little Rock as UCA pulled away over the final six minutes, using a 13-2 run to put the game out of reach, handing the Trojans the 69-54 defeat. The win for the Bears marks UCA's first victory over Little Rock since 1974, ending an 11-game Trojan winning streak in the series.
Central Arkansas' Mathieu Kamba led all scorers, finishing with 19 points, while Jordan Howard added 18 points and seven rebounds for the Bears, who shot 40.7 percent from the floor. Hayden Koval blocked five Trojan shots, a new single-game high on the season.
The game in Conway was the first of a tough end to the non-conference schedule, beginning a stretch as Little Rock plays four of its last five on the road. That run continues next week, beginning in Peoria, Illinois as the Trojans face Bradley on Wednesday, December 13. Opening tip against the Braves is set for 7 p.m.
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