UCA handles Little Rock 85–47 in I-40 rivalry matchup

CONWAY, Ark. — Central Arkansas controlled the Governors I-40 Showdown from the start Wednesday night, rolling to an 85–47 win over Little Rock at the Farris Center.

The game leaned heavily on defensive pressure and steady shooting.

The opening points came on a three-pointer by Ty Robinson at the 18:14 mark, and UCA never lost the lead. That early score helped set a tone that held for the rest of the night.

UCA used quick hands and aggressive pressure to force 25 turnovers, including 16 steals. Those takeaways led to 27 points, allowing UCA to find easy chances at the rim and behind the arc.

By the 12:41 mark, a layup from Camren Hunter pushed the advantage to 15–3. UCA continued to convert mistakes into points, building steady rhythm as the first half moved forward.

Hunter and Robinson carried the offense in the early stretch. Their drives and ball movement stretched Little Rock’s defense and kept the pace high.

Little Rock struggled to settle in offensively, facing pressure near midcourt and limited space inside the lane. Missed shots and turnovers prevented the Trojans from slowing the momentum.

UCA led 53–19 at halftime after outscoring the Trojans 53–14 over the final 18 minutes of the period. The large margin created a cushion that stayed firm throughout the second half.

Strong defense continues into second half

The Bears opened the second half with the same approach. Robinson scored twice at the rim to extend the lead, and UCA continued to control rebounding and shot selection.

Freshman guard Luke Moore added a three-pointer at the 16:37 mark. He finished with 11 points on 3-of-6 shooting from long range and helped the Bears maintain a comfortable margin.

The Bears maintained their pressure, keeping Little Rock from building sustained offensive stretches. Their 44–34 rebounding edge created second-chance chances that helped close out possessions.

Little Rock scored 28 points after halftime, a noticeable improvement, but the gap was far too large to close. UCA countered each push with patient possessions and steady ball handling.

Hunter’s 19 points on 7-of-12 shooting led all scorers. His four steals also highlighted the group’s defensive effort.

Robinson posted 15 points, eight rebounds and a career-high six assists. His all-around play helped balance scoring and distribution.

Moore supplied outside shooting from the bench, while Parker Applegate scored 10 points and Harrison Beauchamp added nine in supporting roles.

Bears build momentum for road matchup

The Bears moved to 4–5 overall with the win. The defensive performance, along with balanced scoring, marked progress as the season continues.

The Bears will now travel to Commerce, Texas, to face East Texas A&M on Sunday. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m. as the Bears look to carry their defensive showing into the next contest.

The game provides another chance to build consistency, especially with conference play approaching. The Bears’ ability to force turnovers and finish at the rim will again be a focus.

Key takeaways

• UCA forced 25 turnovers and scored 27 points off them to control the I-40 Showdown.

• Hunter (19 points) and Robinson (15 points, eight rebounds, six assists) led a balanced scoring effort.

• The Bears built a 53–19 halftime lead and maintained defensive pressure to finish the 85–47 win.