Bears fall 84-77 in overtime as Samford pulls away late

CONWAY, Ark. — Central Arkansas went into overtime on Sunday afternoon but came up short in an 84-77 loss to Samford at the Farris Center.

The game featured 12 ties and seven lead changes, with UCA holding a steady advantage for much of the first half before the Bulldogs rallied late.

UCA dropped to 1-3 on the season, while Samford improved to 3-2. The Bears delivered a strong start and played with energy that kept them in front for long stretches, but the Bulldogs capitalized on key possessions in both regulation and overtime to leave Conway with the win.

The Bears opened the afternoon with confidence, scoring inside early and often. Camren Hunter set the tone within the first 20 seconds as he drove for a layup to put UCA on the board.

That early spark carried through the half as UCA scored 24 of its first-half points in the paint. The Bears shot 17 of 31 from the field before halftime, building a 41-30 lead by the break.

They controlled the tempo, moved the ball well and limited Samford’s transition chances.

The start of the second half brought more of the same. Cole McCormick scored on a layup less than two minutes in to keep UCA’s double-digit lead intact.

At the 15:40 mark, freshman guard Luke Moore completed a three-point play to push the Bears ahead 48-38. The Bears continued to defend well and worked the ball inside, but Samford refused to fade.

The Bulldogs began to rely more heavily on the outside shooting of guard Jadin Booth, who hit several timely three-pointers to chip away at the deficit.

UCA freshman guard Tyler Lee responded with a fast-break three at the 14:48 mark, halting a brief Samford run and giving the Bears more breathing room.

But Samford kept finding ways to cut into the margin, forcing UCA to adjust on the defensive end. As the half moved into its late stages, momentum began to shift toward the Bulldogs.

With only 10 seconds left in regulation, Hunter drove inside again and scored a layup that tied the game at 68.

The Bears got the shot they needed to extend the contest, but they could not take back the lead before the final buzzer.

That sent the game to overtime, giving Samford a new opportunity to capitalize on their late push.

In the overtime period, both teams traded early baskets. Moore scored a fast-break layup with 2:49 left to tie the game at 74, and UCA looked poised to keep the pressure on.

Hunter later connected on a three-pointer with 44 seconds remaining, keeping the Bears within reach. But UCA struggled to keep Samford off the free-throw line, and the Bulldogs made the most of their chances.

Samford also forced several late stops that kept UCA from responding on the other end.

Hunter led the Bears with 26 points, making 11 field goals and adding two steals. Javion Guy-King contributed 13 points while grabbing six rebounds and hitting two three-pointers.

McCormick added eight points along with seven rebounds, giving UCA solid production from multiple positions. Moore and Lee also made important plays throughout the afternoon, especially in transition.

Despite the loss, UCA finished with advantages in several areas. The Bears outrebounded Samford 46-39 and shot a better percentage inside the arc.

However, Samford made up the difference from long range and at the free-throw line. The Bulldogs shot 34.1 percent from three and 72.2 percent at the line, while the Bears hit just 27.3 percent from deep and 56.5 percent on free throws.

UCA also finished with 11 turnovers to Samford’s seven.

The Bears showed stretches of strong defense and energetic ball movement, but long scoring droughts and missed free throws proved costly late. Samford’s ability to convert second-chance chances and control the overtime period ultimately made the difference.

The loss continues a trend of tightly contested games early in the season for UCA, and the coaching staff will look for ways to close out these battles more effectively.

With multiple young players contributing significant minutes, the Bears may still be working toward consistency in late-game situations.

UCA will look to regroup as it heads on the road for its next contest. The Bears face North Texas on Thursday, Nov. 20 at 7 p.m. in Denton.