Robinson scores 28 as Bears fall 99-82 at SMU in road finale

DALLAS — Central Arkansas wrapped up non-conference play with a familiar frustration: strong stretches, sharp shooting, and one big, stubborn problem in the paint they couldn’t solve. The Bears fell 99-82 at SMU on Sunday afternoon, ending the pre-ASUN portion of the schedule at 5-8 while the Mustangs pushed their mark to 10-2.

UCA didn’t come to Moody Coliseum empty-handed. The Bears dropped in 12 three-pointers, slung the ball around freely enough to keep things interesting, and watched Ty Robinson deliver the best scoring performance of his career with 28 points. It still wasn’t enough to withstand the steady interior drumbeat from SMU.

The Mustangs lived around the rim, finishing the afternoon with a pronounced 56-26 advantage in the paint. That gap proved too much for UCA to navigate, even on a day when its perimeter offense surged early and Robinson looked nearly impossible to guard.

Still, the Bears walked into halftime within reach, trailing only 51-47 after trimming what had been a double-digit deficit. For a moment, UCA looked ready to spoil SMU’s afternoon.

That moment did not last long into the second half.

UCA Bears Ty Robinson talks with coach John Shulman during game against the SMU Mustangs at Moody Coliseum in Dallas. | Kalub Rainey-allBEARS+ Images

Robinson delivers, but Bears can’t counter SMU’s size

Robinson scored in every imaginable way, whether curling off screens, firing from deep, or bulldozing his way to the rim. His 28 points became the brightest part of the trip, a confidence jolt as UCA turns toward conference play.

The Bears leaned on him heavily, and he responded with the type of performance coaches like to tuck away as proof that progress is happening.

But the problem for UCA wasn’t finding baskets. It was preventing SMU from walking to the rim like it was their family driveway. Each time the Bears carved the lead down, SMU answered with another post touch, another finish, another reminder that not all shot attempts are built equally.

The Bears had their own productive moments beyond Robinson. Camren Hunter chipped in 19 points, playing with poise and helping UCA stay within reach as the pace opened up. Javion Guy-King added 16, continuing the consistent scoring stretch UCA has come to depend on from him. Luke Moore contributed nine points and five assists, giving the Bears some needed stability in the backcourt.

Even so, UCA never fully rewrote the script of the first half: better shooting outside the arc, but fewer high-percentage looks inside it.

UCA Bears Malchia Marables drives against the SMU Mustangs at Moody Coliseum in Dallas. | Kalub Rainey-allBEARS+ Images

Strong first-half push, fading second half

The opening 20 minutes showed exactly how competitive UCA can be when the shots fall. Long-range accuracy steadied the Bears when SMU threatened to run away early.

Robinson and Hunter combined to fuel a series of mini-runs, and the Bears’ movement on offense generated rhythm that carried them through halftime.

But that rhythm wobbled quickly after the break. SMU started to separate again, leaning more heavily on its frontcourt and pushing UCA into disadvantageous matchups.

For every well-timed three the Bears sank, the Mustangs had a counterattack already assembling.

UCA stayed scrappy, kept shooting with confidence, and never allowed the game to turn into a runaway, but the math never tilted back their direction.

Trading threes for twos works only when the threes keep coming in bunches and the other team doesn’t keep finding uncontested paths in the lane.

The Bears finished the afternoon having played clean basketball — limiting turnovers, competing on the glass, and sharing the ball — yet the physical mismatches around the rim kept shaping the final score.

With the non-conference slate now closed, the Bears shift into ASUN mode. UCA returns home to open league competition on Jan. 1, facing Florida Gulf Coast at 1 p.m.

Key takeaways

• Ty Robinson scored a career-high 28 points, giving UCA a strong individual performance to close non-conference play.
• The Bears hit 12 three-pointers but were outscored 56-26 in the paint, the statistical difference in the 99-82 loss.
• UCA begins ASUN play on Jan. 1 at home against Florida Gulf Coast.