Sugar Bears lean on defense in 67-44 win over Samford

ATLANTA, Ga. — Central Arkansas didn’t need any drama to open the Georgia State Thanksgiving Tournament on Monday.

The team simply played to its identity — defend, share the ball, and trust its depth — on the way to a 67-44 win over Samford in Atlanta.

It wasn’t flashy, and it wasn’t rushed. It was the kind of steady, methodical performance that the program has leaned on through the early part of the season. And by the time the Sugar Bears had pushed the lead into the 20s in the second half, the tone of the afternoon was long settled.

UCA took control of the game almost from the start, using a 7-0 opening run sparked by a three-pointer from Shae Littleford. The Bulldogs missed their first several shots, and UCA made sure those misses turned into opportunities.

Samford managed just one field goal in the entire first quarter, going 1-for-13 from the floor. The four points allowed in the quarter marked UCA’s best defensive start of the season.

The Sugar Bears didn’t overwhelm Samford with one dominant scorer. Instead, they got contributions from different spots on the floor and mixed their looks well.

Littleford, Bree Stephens and Laylah Reese each scored 12 points, and ten different players scored. It was the kind of spread-out, steady production that has become a trademark under this staff.

Stephens added a career-best seven assists, while Cheyanne Kemp added five more. UCA didn’t force plays that weren’t there. The ball moved until someone earned a clean look or found an angle at the rim. Over the course of four quarters, that patience added up.

Samford showed small flashes, especially in the second quarter, when the Bulldogs hit a pair of threes to momentarily settle in.

But the Sugar Bears never lost their poise, never let possessions speed up, and kept Samford from finding any rhythm inside. Even when the Bulldogs pushed the tempo or looked for early-clock threes, UCA had an answer.

By halftime, the Sugar Bears had built a double-digit lead, but the true push — the kind that closes doors — came early in the third quarter. UCA opened the second half on a 16-3 run, a mix of layups, drives, transition finishes and a well-timed three from the wing.

Four different players scored in that stretch. The lead grew, the Bulldogs sagged, and the game tilted fully toward the Sugar Bears.

It wasn’t just the offense. UCA controlled the paint all afternoon, outscoring Samford 26-6 near the rim. When shots didn’t fall, the Sugar Bears created second-chance opportunities. They collected 11 second-chance points. Samford finished with none.

That interior gap was one of the day’s defining stats and reflected the Sugar Bears’ physical advantage.

Samford relied on the three-point line to generate most of its offense. Briana Rivera hit three threes and finished with nine points, while Frances Morris and Kaylee Yarbrough added eight each.

But the Bulldogs never made a meaningful run at the lead. Too many empty trips. Too many turnovers in key stretches. Too few clean drives to the basket. They finished with 19 turnovers, a number that made it nearly impossible to stage a rally.

By the time the game moved into the final minutes, the Sugar Bears were able to play deeper into the bench and still keep the pace controlled. The defense remained steady, and Samford scored only 12 points in the fourth quarter.

For UCA, the win moved the record to 3-2 and provided the kind of effort the team hopes to stack as the tournament continues. The turnaround is quick. The Sugar Bears face Stony Brook on Tuesday, a matchup that offers another test of depth and execution with little prep time.

But they’ll enter that game with something that’s becoming more familiar: confidence in the way they defend, the way they move the ball, and the way they handle early swings. Monday’s win didn’t hinge on a single moment. It was built across every possession — the kind of game a coach can point to when trying to define a team’s identity.

And if this week continues the way it started, the Sugar Bears will leave Atlanta looking like a group that’s learning how to win with a clear plan and a steady approach.

Key takeaways

• UCA held Samford to four first-quarter points while forcing a 1-for-13 shooting start.

• The Sugar Bears had ten players score and three finish with 12 points.

• UCA controlled the paint, outscoring Samford 26-6 inside and winning second-chance points 11-0.