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CONWAY, Ark. – HBU built its lead as large as 16 midway through the second half but Central Arkansas managed to tie it up with just a minute remaining before the Huskies scored the final four points en route to a hard-fought 75-71 Southland Conference road win over the Bears at the Farris Center on Wednesday evening.
 
Central Arkansas (10-15, 5-7 SLC) struck first with a basket on the game's opening possession but the Huskies (8-14, 4-7 SLC) with the next two for an early 5-2 lead. The game stayed tight through the first four minutes with the Bears leading 10-9 at the first media timeout.
 
After a Ty Dalton jumper, UCA used an 8-2 run to gain its largest lead of the game, 18-13, with a little over 10 minutes left in the period. HBU responded with an 11-6 run, capped by a Dalton three, in a span of less than three minutes to even things up, 24-24, with 7:03 on the clock.
 
That trey from Dalton was the start of a 10-0 stretch for the Huskies and was part of a greater 17-2 run that ended with the Huskies holding a 41-26 lead with just 1:19 left in the half. UCA's DeAndre Jones made a pair of free throws and Eddy Kayouloud connected on a three to close out the half and send the teams into the locker rooms at the half with HBU leading 41-31. Dalton was a perfect 5-of-5 from the floor, 2-of-2 from behind the arc, for 12 points in the first half.
 
In the first minute of the second half, UCA scored five points to quickly cut their deficit to just 41-36 thanks to a layup and a three from Thatch Unruh. A minute later, with 18:01 on the clock, Unruh made another three to pull the Bears within two, 43-41. The Huskies then went on a 10-2 run punctuated by an old-fashioned three-point play from Dalton to lead 52-43 at the 15:57 mark.
 
With 14:29 to play, UCA's Hayden Koval made one free throw out of two to cut the Husky lead to 52-46 but threes from Ian DuBose and Jalon Gates along with two-point bucket from DuBose and Dalton pushed the HBU lead to 62-46 with just over 10 minutes to go in the game.
 
The Bears responded with a 13-1 run to cut the Husky lead to just four, 63-59, with 6:14 on the clock. The Huskies scored the next four, including an easy lob lay-in by DuBose, to put HBU back ahead by eight. UCA scored the next five but Dalton hit another bucket for a 69-64 lead with just 2:19 remaining.
 
Over the next 1:19 the Bears clawed their way back to even the score for the first time since the 7:03 mark in the first half at 71-71 with exactly one minute to go. On their next possession, DuBose took the ball in his hands and knocked down a huge three under pressure for a 74-71 lead with just over 30 seconds left. An Unruh jumper was off target on the Bears' next trip down the floor with DuBose grabbing the rebound and getting fouled to go to the line with a chance to ice the game. With 14 seconds on the clock, DuBose made one of two attempts and UCA was unable to find the bottom of the net for the 75-71 final.
 
Dalton closed the night with career-highs in both points and rebounds with 21 points on 9-of-12 shooting, including 2-of-2 from three, and 10 boards. The sophomore also added three steals and an assist for the Huskies. DuBose finished the night with 19 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three steals while Braxton Bonds added 11 points and four assists. Oliver Lynch-Daniels was 3-of-6 from deep for nine points while also grabbing four rebounds.
 
Unruh led all players with 22 points while Hayden Koval ended the night with 16 points and 10 rebounds to go along with eight blocked shots. UCA also held a 47-43 advantage on the boards.
 
The Huskies shot 38.2 percent (26-of-68) from the floor and were 42.3 percent (11-of-26) from three-point range. HBU forced the Bears into 17 turnovers while committing just 13.
 
The Huskies will return to Sharp Gym in Houston for their next two games beginning Saturday, Feb. 16, with a 7:00 p.m. matchup against Nicholls. HBU will be wearing their mid-70's throwback uniforms featuring the "Hustlin' Husky."