Feb 7th, 2007 09:51PM
by:

By STEVE EAST
UCA SID

CONWAY — The University of Central Arkansas Bears set a school record Wednesday night against Stephen F. Austin, but it was not for shooting.

The  Bears blocked eight shots to set the single-season record with 141 but cold shooting doomed them again in a 60-54 loss at the Farris Center.

UCA (8-15, 2-8) made only 2 of 14 from three-point range (14.3 percent) and shot 36 percent overall. Still, the Bears were within five points at 57-52 with 1:16 remaining. UCA was forced to foul and the Lumberjacks made just enough of their free throws to hold on for the victory.

SFA (14-8, 7-3) hit only 3 of 6 from the line in the final minute but it was enough as the Bears made only one of their last three shot attempts, a layup by freshman Marcus Pillow with 11 seconds remaining to close the gap to 59-54.

Josh Alexander made 1 of 2 from the line for the ‘Jacks with 10 seconds left and Scott Weaver blocked Pillow’s final jumper at the buzzer.

UCA, which lost its second straight game after a two-game win streak, made only nine field goals in each half against the top defensive team in the Southland Conference. The Lumberjacks entered the game allowing 60.4 points per game. They also resurrected  their own offense after scoring just 45 points in a 49-45 loss to Texas-San Antonio last Saturday.

Junior guard Nate Bowie came off the UCA bench and led the Bears with 16 points and 3 assists. Junior forward Durrell Nevels added 14 points, 7 rebounds and 4 blocked shots. Senior Center Fernando Johnson blocked three more shots and Bowie added the final one to break the old record of 140 set in 2004-2005.

Nevels scored 13 of his points in the second half as the Bears overcame a 12-point deficit to make it close at the end.

Alexander and Antuane Miller led the ‘Jacks with 14 points each. SFA won despite shooting 56.3 percent (9 of 16) from the free-throw line.

UCA travels to Huntsville, Texas, to take on Sam Houston State on Saturday night. Tipoff is 7 p.m.