CONWAY, Ark. – Central Arkansas used a pair of big runs in the second half to power past Southeastern Louisiana, 88-72, Tuesday in Southland Conference play at the Farris Center.
The Bears (5-15, 4-6 Southland) picked up their second-straight win, snapping Southeastern's (5-18, 3-7 Southland) 2-game winning streak in the process.
Central Arkansas jumped to an early, double-digit lead, 18-8, over the Lions on Justin Foreman's layup at the 14:39 mark. Southeastern responded with a 10-2 run, pulling with a basket on
Dimi Cook's jumper (12:39).
Despite short scoring bursts by the Bears, Southeastern kept the game within a couple possessions. The Lions pulled within four at the 5:52 mark, 31-27, on
Moses Greenwood's layup.
Central Arkansas went back up by nine, 36-27, on Derreck Brooks' 3-pointer (4:56), but
JaMichael Hawkins answered with one of his own to cut the deficit to six at the 4:07 mark.
The Bears jumped back up by double-digits again, but a pair of free throws by Greenwood (3:23), a layup by Cook (2:30) and dunk by
Dominic Nelson (1:03) brought Southeastern within five, 41-36.
A late free throw tacked on a point for Central Arkansas, 42-36, heading to halftime.
Still a 6-point game with five minutes gone in the second half, the Bears put together a 9-1 run that pushed their lead back into double figures, 59-45, on Jordan Howard's layup (12:10).
Central Arkansas expanded its lead to a game-high 22 points, 75-53, on free throws from Howard (5:40) and Jake Zuilhof (5:27) that capped an 11-0 run.
Cook led the Lions with 15 points, while Greenwood (12) and Hawkins (11) also cracked double figures.
Jordan Capps and Greenwood each hauled in a team-high seven rebounds.
Southeastern shot 40.3 percent (25-of-62) from the floor, including 35.5 percent (11-of-31) from 3-point range. The Lions converted 11-of-19 (57.9 percent) from the free throw line.
Howard, the reigning Southland player of the week, led all players with 24 points. Brooks (18 points, nine rebounds), Mathieu Kamba (15 points, nine rebounds), Foreman (11) and Zuilhoff (10) all reach double-digits for the Bears.
Central Arkansas shot 52.1 percent (25-of-48) from the floor, including 41.2 percent (7-of-17) from 3-point range. The Bears converted 31-of-42 (73.8 percent) from the free throw line and out-rebounded the Lions, 37-33.
Southeastern returns to the University Center Saturday to host Nicholls as part of a doubleheader with the women's basketball team.
Saturday's doubleheader will feature the Cub Club Celebration, as all Cub Club members are invited to join the celebration. Cub Club members are asked to RSVP at (985) 549-3227. Saturday is also men's basketball Alumni Day, as all former players are invited to attend and be recognized.
Advanced tickets for home basketball games can be purchased online at www.LionSports.net/Tickets or through the Southeastern Athletic Ticket Office, located in Room 107 of the Dugas Center for Southeastern Athletics.
Doubleheader general admission tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for children (age 3-12). Southeastern students will be admitted free to home games with a valid university ID card. For more information, contact the ticket office at (985) 549-5466 or 1-866-LION-TIX. Ticket office hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Fridays.
