UCA beats Bellarmine 86-73 in ASUN quarterfinal game

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Central Arkansas opened the ASUN Championship with a steady performance Friday morning, defeating Bellarmine, 86-73, in the quarterfinal round at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena.

The win was the first time since UCA moved up to Division I they have ever reached this point in a conference tournament. They did it with their Batman and Robin.

“Huge win for us,” Bears coach John Shulman said after the game with allBears+ from Jacksonville. “Bellarmine had a really good team. We were really locked in early defensively.”

The victory pushed the Bears into the conference semifinals and continued a strong season for the program, which entered the postseason as the league’s top seed.

UCA improved to 21-11 overall and moved one step closer to the conference tournament title. The Bears earned their spot in the quarterfinals after winning the ASUN regular-season championship.

Bellarmine came into the matchup as the No. 8 seed. The Knights battled throughout the game but struggled to keep pace with UCA’s scoring.

A lot of that was due to UCA’s guard tandem of Camren Hunter and Ty Robinson

“That’s our Batman and Robin,” Shulman said. “They set the tone and we played as a team today.”

Hunter led the offensive effort for the Bears with a game-high 31 points. His scoring helped UCA maintain control during key stretches of the contest and combined with Robinson’s 12 points they pushed the tempo. Bellarmine couldn’t keep up.

The Bears also shot well from long distance, finishing 13 of 26 from three-point range. That outside accuracy allowed the Bears to stretch the defense and create open looks throughout the game.

Hunter leads scoring effort

Hunter’s strong performance helped the Bears establish momentum early in the game. The senior guard found open space on the perimeter and consistently knocked down shots.

His 31 points marked the top scoring performance of the contest and provided a boost for UCA’s offense.

The Bears relied on strong teamwork to support Hunter’s scoring night. Players moved the ball well and looked for open shooters across the floor.

UCA continued to maintain offensive rhythm as the game moved into the second half. Each successful possession helped protect the lead.

Bellarmine stayed competitive during several stretches, but UCA answered with timely baskets to keep control of the matchup.

The Bears’ success from three-point range made a major difference. Making half of their attempts from beyond the arc forced the Knights to extend their defense.

Bears advance in conference tournament

With the win, UCA advanced to the ASUN Championship semifinal round scheduled for Saturday in Jacksonville.

The Bears will face the winner of the Florida Gulf Coast and Lipscomb quarterfinal matchup.

The victory also highlighted the consistency UCA has shown throughout the season. The program secured the No. 1 seed in the tournament after posting a 15-3 record in conference play.

That regular-season success gave the Bears confidence entering the postseason tournament.

UCA’s balanced offense and strong outside shooting helped set the tone in Friday’s quarterfinal matchup.

Now the Bears turn their focus toward the semifinal round facing Florida Gulf Coast in a game scheduled to tip off at 4 p.m. Another win would send UCA into the ASUN Championship final and move the team closer to the NCAA Tournament.

“This win brings us one step closer,” Shulman said. “Florida Gulf Coast is a really good team.”

The game will be streamed live on ESPN+.