CONWAY, Ark. — Juniors Andrew Francis and Melvin Smith scored 12 points apiece, but Nate Bowie poured in a game-high 14 as Central Arkansas fended off a furious second-half rally and outlasted UTSA, 59-49, in Southland Conference action on Thursday night at the Farris Center.
The Bears pick up their first-ever SLC victory and improved to 6-10 overall and 1-2 in the league, while the Roadrunners dropped their fifth straight game and fell to 4-11 (0-2).
Francis and Smith combined for 16 points in the second half and helped UTSA fight back from a 17-point deficit to within six with less than three minutes to play. Junior Keith Spencer added 11 points and eight boards.
UCA led by nine, 32-23, at the break and quickly extended the lead to 15 with a 7-1 run to start the second half. A Marcus Pillow trey made it 46-29 in favor of the Bears with 9:35 remaining.
UTSA cut the deficit to single digits as senior Kurt Attaway capped a 10-0 run with a 3-pointer from the top of the key at the 5:15 mark. Spencer made it a six-point game on a layup with just over two minutes to play and a pair of Francis free throws had UTSA within 53-47 with 58 ticks left. However, UCA made 6-of-7 free throws from there and held on for the win.
Both teams struggled early offensively, as UTSA missed its first six shots from the field. The Roadrunners held a 12-11 lead after a monster dunk by Francis at the 8:37 mark, but that would be the last lead of the game for UTSA.
UCA heated up over the final three minutes of the first half, draining a pair of 3-pointers including a trey at the buzzer by Fred Campbell, for a 32-23 lead at the half.
Mitch Rueter and Campbell added 13 and 11 points, respectively, for the Bears.
The Roadrunners travel to Natchitoches, La., to face defending conference champion Northwestern State on Saturday, Jan. 13. Tip is set for 2 p.m. at Prather Coliseum.
