Bears Hold Off Cowboys 103-98 in Triple Overtime

Courtesy University of Central Arkansas Athletics Department

CONWAY, Ark. _ Senior Jarvis Garner nailed long three-pointers to send the game to its first and second overtimes and the University of Central Arkansas Bears held off the McNeese State Cowboys 103-98 in three overtimes on Thursday night at the Farris Center. 

Garner, who tied his career high with 38 points, hit from 30 feet on the right wing to tie it at 78-78 at the end of regulation. He spun away from a defender and did the same thing from nearly the same spot at the end of the first extra period, tying it at 86-86. Senior center Anthony Borden then scored six points and grabbed three rebounds in the second overtime, including a pair of free throws that tied it at 94-94, to force yet another extra period. 

UCA (7-10, 2-5) fell behind in the third period but DeShone McClure got a slam dunk and Garner added a jumper with 1:07 left to play to give the Bears a 100-97 lead. Kevin Hardy made one free throw before Garner made two at the line for a 102-98 lead. Hardy missed a three-point attempt and McClure rebounded for UCA. 

The junior from Jacksonville made his first free throw, then rebounded his own miss as the Bears held on for their second consecutive Southland Conference victory. It was UCA’s first triple overtime game since Feb. 3, 2003 against Christian Brothers, and only the second in school history.

“He hit one like that for us last year,’ said an excited and exhausted UCA head coach Corliss Williamson. “Jarvis lives for the moment, he lives for those big-time moments. He wants the ball.

“That first one, it was a prayer and God answered it for us. It was amazing to see Jarvis knock down that shot, and just to have the guts to step up and want the basketball. In the huddle, he was saying “I want the ball coach.’ We got it to him and he came through for us two times.’

Garner, who tied his previous career high of 38 points against Central Baptist back on Dec. 31, and tied his career high with 15 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season. Junior guard LaQuentin Miles also had a double-double with 25 points and 10 assists, while Borden tied his career high with 14 points and set his career high with 8 rebounds.

UCA shot 47.6 percent from the field for the game and hit 9 of 23 (39.1 percent) from three-point range. Garner was 14 of 19 from the field, including 6 of 9 from beyond the arc. The Bears outrebounded McNeese 56-46, with six different players grabbing at least five rebounds.

“We’ve always expected Anthony to have the ability to have a big game for us,’ said Williamson. “He stepped up at the right time. This was a great night for Anthony. He played extended minutes, he was able to rebound for us, get some tip-ins, and also score the basketball. We were very happy with Anthony’s performance tonight, and hopefully that will encourage him to keep working hard in practice.’

McNeese (8-9, 2-5) was led by Ledrick Eackles with 26 points, while Desharick Guidry added 20.

“We talked about it before the game and told the guys this was going to be the toughest game of this four-game home swing,’ said Williamson. “Knowing that McNeese was going to be ready to play. And the fact that we didn’t practice very well leading up to the game.

“To win two games in a row is really big for us, confidence-wise. This gives us an opportunity to try to get on a roll here at home.’

UCA hosts the Lamar Cardinals at 4:30 Saturday, before facing Southeastern Louisiana next Thursday and Nicholls State on Saturday, all at the Farris Center.