LITTLE ROCK — Central Arkansas Coach Corliss Williamson believes his team has learned a thing or two over the past few weeks.
UCA lost by a combined four points to Arkansas State (73-72) and Sacramento State (71-68) during Thanksgiving week, but the Bears have rebounded since with consecutive victories over Eastern Illinois (74-72), Tennessee-Martin (87-86) and Southeast Missouri (88-85).
Williamson has started calling his team the “Cardiac Bears” since each of the past five games has been decided by three points or less.
“We found a way to win those close games,” Williamson said. “We lost two at home. We didn’t know how to finish those games out. Even though we gave up leads, we should have been in control of those games.
“The guys know how to play at the end of games now when they’re close. I think that’s been a learning process and an experience process that we’ve gone through.”
After a week off for finals, the Bears (4-3) return to action today at No. 24 Oklahoma State. The Cowboys (7-1) are led by sophomore forward Le’Bryan Nash, who is second in the Big 12 Conference with an average of 16.3 points per game.
UCA will be without junior guard LaQuentin Miles for at least three weeks with a broken left hand. Miles is UCA’s second-leading scorer at 13.9 points per game and had started all seven games.
Also, junior forward Jordan Harks (foot) is a game time decision. At 6-8, Harks (11.1 ppg) is the tallest player in UCA’s starting lineup with 6-10 senior center Anthony Borden ineligible during the fall semester.
Oklahoma State has three players at 6-7 or taller in its starting lineup, which provides a challenge for the Bears should Harks not play today.
“It’s going to be a tough game for us,” Williamson said. “They’re a lot bigger, a lot stronger and a lot taller. For us, we have to get the game into a more up-tempo style where we utilize our athleticism and speed to counteract their size.
“It’s a tough match up for us.”
Senior guard Robert Crawford scored a career-high 39 points on 12-of-15 shooting in UCA’s victory at Southeast Missouri. Crawford leads the Bears in scoring with an average of 15.2 points per game. Williamson said Crawford’s game has improved from last season, his first at UCA after transferring from Connors State in Oklahoma.
“Last year, he was mainly shooting the three-ball,” Williamson said. “This year, he’s attacking people off the dribble, shooting pull-up jumpers, and that in turn has opened the floor up for him.”
UCA also will travel to Mississippi State on Dec. 22 before facing Central Baptist at home Dec. 31. The Bears begin Southland Conference play Jan. 3 at Nicholls State.
“It’s going to be a big test for us,” said Crawford of the Bears’ next two games. “We have to be focused and ready. We have to get our minds right.”
The Bears have not beaten a major conference team on the road under Williamson. In their only meeting at Oklahoma State in 2010, the Bears lost 69-57. UCA lost 79-64 in its season opener Nov. 9 at Arizona State.
Playing teams such as Arizona State, Oklahoma State and Mississippi State can only help UCA, Williamson said.
“Conference play is a grind,” Williamson said. “To play two tough teams like Oklahoma State and Mississippi State is going to give us a test to see where we are, what we need to work on.
“There are a lot of things we need to practice on between now and the start of conference. It’s a good fit for us to play these tough teams and see where we are.”
SATURDAY’S GAMES
Northwestern State 95, Missouri Valley 78 Stephen F. Austin 78, Lubbock Christian 67 Texas Pan American 75, Lamar 70 Sam Houston State 73, Samford 57
TODAY’S GAMES All times Central
SE Louisiana at North Texas, 1 p.m.
Central Arkansas at Oklahoma State, 3 p.m.
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at South Alabama, 4:05 p.m.
McNeese State at Texas Tech, 7 p.m.
Sports, Pages 36 on 12/16/2012