Bears fall to Bellarmine 84-78 in overtime road test

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Central Arkansas didn’t sneak into overtime on a prayer or a busted play. The Bears earned it the hard way, through shot-making, stubborn defense, and just enough nerve to keep the game alive.

They just didn’t earn the ending they wanted.

UCA fell 84-78 to Bellarmine in overtime Thursday night, a loss that managed to be both encouraging and irritating all at once. The Bears hit 13 three-pointers, forced extra time on the road, and still walked out of Knights Hall wishing they’d packed a few more paint touches and free throws.

The Bears slipped to 7-9 overall and 2-1 in ASUN play, and while January records don’t go on tombstones, this one will linger. Not because it was ugly. Because it was there.

Ty Robinson once again looked like a man who refuses to let the offense stall. He finished with 24 points, nine rebounds and five assists, his fourth straight game topping 20 points. It wasn’t flashy. It was persistent.

Camren Hunter matched that energy with one of his most complete nights of the season, posting 20 points and a career-high 10 rebounds for his first double-double. He also grabbed two steals, which felt appropriate given how often UCA needed an extra possession.

Javion Guy-King gave the Bears their loudest moment. His three with four seconds left in regulation tied the game at 71 and forced overtime, quieting the crowd and giving UCA one more chance to flip the night.

Bellarmine, however, didn’t blink.

The Knights led 39-38 at halftime after a first half that felt like a study in small advantages. Nothing dramatic. Just enough efficiency to stay comfortable while UCA chased rhythm.

The Bears had the shooting. Bellarmine had the space inside. That contrast followed the game like a shadow.

Bellarmine’s interior edge proves costly in overtime

The second half didn’t settle anything. UCA outscored Bellarmine by a single point over the final 20 minutes, trading buckets and momentum until regulation expired even.

Guy-King’s late three was the payoff for a night in which the Bears refused to fade, even as shooting percentages dipped. UCA finished at 35.1 percent overall and 31 percent from deep, numbers that don’t scream efficiency until you realize how many of those shots came under pressure.

Overtime, though, belonged to Bellarmine.

The Knights opened the extra period with a go-ahead three, then leaned into the kind of basketball that ages well late: paint touches and free throws. UCA briefly cut the lead to one on a Cole McCormick layup, but every answer required more effort than the Bears could afford.

Bellarmine closed the game at the line, with Tyler Doyle and Sam Donald hitting late free throws that stretched the margin just enough to breathe.

The numbers tell the story plainly. Bellarmine outscored UCA 34-22 in the paint, an edge that didn’t matter much until it mattered completely.

UCA’s 13 made three-pointers kept the game afloat, but relying on jump shots in overtime is like asking a tired engine to redline uphill. It works until it doesn’t.

Still, the Bears didn’t fold. They competed, answered runs, and forced Bellarmine to play a full 45 minutes to earn the win. That matters in league play, even if the standings won’t show it.

UCA now turns the page quickly, heading to Eastern Kentucky on Saturday for a 3 p.m. tip in Richmond. The schedule doesn’t pause for frustration, and neither can the Bears.

If nothing else, Thursday reinforced a simple truth: when UCA shoots like this, it can play with anyone in the ASUN. The next step is making sure the inside game and late execution travel with it.

Key takeaways

• UCA forced overtime on the road but fell 84-78 as Bellarmine controlled the paint and late free throws.
• Ty Robinson, Camren Hunter and Javion Guy-King combined for 62 points in a balanced offensive effort.
• The Bears’ 13 three-pointers kept the game tight, but interior scoring decided the outcome.