CONWAY, ARK. – Central Arkansas had four players with 12 or more points and Harding shot only 33% from the field as the Bears defeated the Bisons 72-55 on Monday at the Farris Center. It was the last meeting between the two as Gulf South Conference rivals. UCA will be a member of the NCAA I Southland Conference next season.

                                                              

Central Arkansas (16-7, 9-4) outscored Harding in both halves to sweep the season series for the first time since 2001. The Bisons (13-10, 4-8) had won the last four meetings in Conway. Harding likely needs to win its last four games to have a chance to play in the GSC Tournament.

 

UCA junior guard LeMar Phillips led all scorers with 15 points. Aubrey Bruner, a 5-10 guard, came off the bench to score 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting. Chad Wise added 13 points and Darryl Jones scored 12.

 

Junior Cole Kee led Harding in scoring for the first time this season with 12 points. Patrick Andrepont added 10.

 

Harding senior Lonnie Smith entered the game averaging over 20 points but had only eight on 2-of-14 shooting. Smith had scored 14 or more points in the last 20 games. He did hit two three-pointers to move into fifth in career three’s at Harding.

 

The Bisons are back in action Thursday at the Rhodes Field House, taking on Christian Brothers. The Bucs fell 59-53 to Henderson State on Monday in Memphis.