BEARS

CHARLOTTE, NC _ The three-point shot and defensive stance within the last seconds led the College of Central Arkansas Bears to a troublesome and satisfying 92-91 victory over the Queens Royals of their debut at Curry Area on Thursday night time. .

The Bears earned their first ASUN Convention win of the season by knocking out a season-high 15 three-pointers and scoring a career-high 33 factors from the sophomore guard. Camren Hunter. Hunter and firm then, with UCA’s sole veteran, saved the Royals undefeated within the last 20 seconds. Eddy Kayoulud flattening the shot Queens missed on the bell.

“We have been via loads recently and all we discuss is staying collectively and persevering with to struggle,” mentioned UCA’s appearing head coach. Brock Widders. “We had difficulties within the final two weeks and we had difficulties within the final 20 seconds of that recreation. All we did was keep collectively and hold preventing.”

The Bears play their third recreation with no head coach Anthony Boonescored the season’s highest factors towards an NCAA Division I opponent and wanted all of it. Declining to 10 factors within the first half, UCA shot 11 three-pointers (out of 18) within the first half and took the lead 51-44 on the timeout.

The second half was as aggressive because the Royals (12-6, 2-3) beat the Bears (6-12, 1-4) 13-5 within the first six minutes of the half. However UCA took the lead once more in 59-57 and was by no means behind once more. A last three-pointer from Hunter, who was 4 out of 9 from behind the arc, put UCA up 89-83 with 2:00 left.

Queens made two extra threes, narrowing the result in simply 91-89 with 40.5 remaining. UCA freshman Johannes Kirsipuu He made 2 to 1 on the free throw line, however Queens responded with two free throws, making the rating 92-91 in 32.4 seconds. A pie from UCA reversed the ball and the Royals requested a time-out with 27.1 seconds remaining.

UCA pressured the Queens possession on the 6.8 mark with the shot clock at 5.0. Queens guard Kenny Dye, the season’s high scorer, missed a contested shot within the lane, and Kayouloud was assured to overlook when time was up.

Hunter was 11 out of 20 from the sector and seven out of seven from the free throw line. Getting back from harm, Kirsipuu hit 3 of 5 with a three-pointer and equalized a career-high 14 factors. Redshirt freshman VJ Reeves added 14 factors, a 4 in 6 comeback and eight rebounds. Kayoulud, who wore the quantity 41 jersey in honor of Boone, who had coronary heart surgical procedure by Ole Miss Boone per week in the past, completed the sport with 9 factors and 6 rebounds.

AJ McKee is within the Royals with 22 factors, with 5 gamers in double figures and 12 three-pointers.

UCA shot 45.2 p.c (54.8 p.c within the first half) and 48.4 p.c (15 out of 31) from the three-point vary for the sport. Having performed 5 video games in 13 days, three of them away, the Bears saved their palms on the free throw line with 21 within the night time (87.5 p.c).

“Coronary heart, it actually was,” Widders mentioned. “We talked about relaxation, we gave them Sunday and Monday off. However on the finish of the day, it is the center. We talked about it, we talked concerning the struggle, and I believe it actually says one thing (about that staff).

“We had been engaged on shifting the ball, shifting the ball, getting the ball shifting, and we did a superb job at that tonight. We knew we had been going to get open appears to be like and usually our gamers consider in themselves. That is the sort of marksman they’re right here for. That is why they have been round for the previous week. We tried to instill religion.”

Disturbed however nonetheless taking part in 28 minutes in UCA’s final away recreation at Austin Peay on Saturday, Hunter recorded 36 minutes on Thursday, added 2 rebounds, 2 assists and a couple of steals to the stats desk and made a terrific defensive stance within the last recreation. .

“He is unbelievable,” Widders mentioned. “You may take a look at his scores, he clearly had 33 and it is superb. However he is sort of a teammate, his sort of a employee is what received him up to now right here. You may’t say sufficient about Cam Hunter.. He is that sort of child.”

UCA continues its journey by going through the Liberty Flames in Lynchburg, Va., on Saturday at 6:00 pm (CT).