Bears Set to Face Two of Southland’s Best Players

Courtesy University of Central Arkansas Athletics Department

CONWAY, Ark. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears will go up against two of the best players in the Southland Conference on Tuesday night when they face the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles for the first time this season league play at the Mabee Center. 

Guard Warren Niles and power forward Damen Bell-Holter are both solidly in the running for the SLC Player of the Year award. Niles, a 6-foot-5, 195-pound senior is second in the conference in scoring (19.2 ppg) and second in three-point shooting (42.3 percent). Bell-Holter (6-9, 245) is the top rebounder (9.7) and is sixth in field-goal percentage (51.9). He also leads the SLC with 10 double-doubles.

The Golden Eagles, newcomers to the Southland this season, are currently in second place in the league with an 11-3 record, trailing co-leaders Stephen F. Austin and Northwestern State by just one game.

“They have some very talented players and are a very talented team,’ said UCA head coach Corliss Williamson. “They are a talented as anyone in the conference. We’ll have to come out with good focus and good energy to beat them on their home court.’

UCA (9-15, 4-10) has lost four consecutive games, including an 80-75 setback to Sam Houston State at the Farris Center. Senior Robert Crawford, the top three-point shooter in the SLC (42.6) had 21 points, while junior LaQuentin Miles added 19 points and senior Jarvis Garner had 15 points and 11 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the season.

Through a quirk in the schedule, the Bears and Golden Eagles have not met yet with only four league games remaining on the schedule. ORU comes to Conway for the rematch on March 9, the last playing date of the regular season.