Bears face Wolves in Conway with hot streak at stake

CONWAY, Ark. — Central Arkansas returns home Saturday afternoon for another key ASUN matchup against West Georgia at the Farris Center with tip-off set for 1 p.m.

UCA enters the game at 16-10 overall and 11-2 in conference play. The Bears have been one of the hottest teams in the league and will try to protect their strong home record.

West Georgia comes in at 12-13 overall and 6-7 in ASUN action. The Wolves have won two straight games and hope to carry that momentum into Conway.

When these teams met earlier this season in Carrollton, the Bears earned an 86-65 road win. That game showed how well UCA can score from the outside and share the ball.

Ty Robinson led the way in that first meeting with 22 points. He made 4 of his 5 shots from three-point range and helped stretch the defense.

Cole McCormick added 15 points in that win while shooting 6-for-7 from the field. Camren Hunter and Truman Byrne each scored 12 points, and Luke Moore finished with 11.

Balanced scoring has been a key theme for UCA this season. Several players can reach double figures on any night, which makes the offense hard to stop.

The Bears are also coming off an 84-76 win over Bellarmine. That victory pushed their current win streak to nine games.

UCA riding strong stretch into home matchup

In the Bellarmine game, UCA forced 16 turnovers and turned those mistakes into 21 points. Defense has played a big role during this winning run.

Hunter scored 18 points and grabbed eight rebounds in that contest. He now sits just two points shy of 500 for the season.

Robinson added 15 points in the Bellarmine win. Moore chipped in 14 points and made 4 of 6 shots from beyond the arc.

Javion Guy-King finished with 12 points, and McCormick contributed 10. Once again, the scoring load was shared across the lineup.

At home, the Bears have been tough to beat. UCA owns a 12-1 overall record at the Farris Center and is 7-0 in ASUN home games.

In conference play, the Bears are averaging 84 points per game. They’re shooting 48 percent from the field, 37 percent from three and 73 percent from the free-throw line.

Those numbers show how efficient UCA has been on offense. Quick ball movement and strong shooting have helped build leads early in many games.

West Georgia will try to slow that pace. The Wolves are averaging 76 points per ASUN game while shooting 45 percent from the field and 33 percent from three.

Wolves bring scoring power to Conway

Shelton Williams-Dryden leads West Georgia with 23.4 points per conference game. He also averages 10.2 rebounds and gives the Wolves a strong inside presence.

Josh Smith adds 16.6 points per ASUN contest, and Malcolm Noel scores 10 points per game in league play. That trio provides most of the Wolves’ scoring punch.

West Georgia recently defeated Jacksonville at home and then won on the road at North Alabama. Those victories helped steady the Wolves in conference standings.

For UCA, the focus will remain on defense and rebounding. Limiting second chances and protecting the paint will be important against Williams-Dryden.

The Bears have shown they can control tempo at home. Their 7-0 conference record in Conway proves they’re comfortable on their own court.

Fans can watch the game live on ESPN+. Radio coverage will air on The Bear 91.3 and Jack 92.7, with live stats available online.

Saturday’s matchup offers another chance for UCA to strengthen its position in the ASUN race. With a long winning streak and strong home support, the Bears will look to keep building momentum.