UCA Bears extend winning streak to six with second-half surge

The University of Central Arkansas men's basketball team overcame a slow start to defeat North Alabama 81-60 at home.

Published on Feb. 5, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The University of Central Arkansas men's basketball team defeated North Alabama 81-60 on Wednesday night, extending their winning streak to six games. UCA trailed by one point at halftime but dominated the second half, outscoring North Alabama 41-21 over the final 20 minutes. The Bears were led by Luke Moore's 15 points, while Javion Guy-King and Ty Robinson each scored 12 points.

Why it matters

The win keeps UCA in the hunt for the Atlantic Sun Conference title, as they improve to 13-10 overall and 8-2 in conference play. The Bears have now won six straight games after a slow start to the season, showcasing their ability to make adjustments and pull away from opponents in the second half.

The details

UCA led 40-39 at halftime but came out strong in the second half, opening on a 9-2 run to take a 59-48 lead with 13:55 remaining. The Bears' lead grew to as many as 20 points in the second half as they shot 53.6% from the field and 6-of-13 from three-point range after the break. North Alabama was held to just 30.4% shooting in the second half.

  • The game was played on Wednesday, February 5, 2026.

The players

Luke Moore

A freshman starter for the UCA Bears, he led the team with 15 points on 6-of-14 shooting.

Javion Guy-King

A junior for the UCA Bears, he scored 12 points in the win.

Ty Robinson

A freshman starter for the UCA Bears, he also scored 12 points in the victory.

Donte Bacchus

A player for North Alabama, he led all scorers with 21 points but was held to just 2-of-6 shooting in the second half.

John Shulman

The head coach of the UCA Bears, he praised his team's second-half adjustments after a slow start.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We did not play up to our standard in the first half. Defensively, we were atrocious. Give them (North Alabama) credit -- we've been really pressuring the ball well and taking people out of their offense. They didn't run offense. They just got the switch they wanted and played one-on-one. And we did not guard one-on-one very good.”

— John Shulman, Head Coach, UCA Bears (arkansasonline.com)

“Everybody runs offense, they just were prepared, and they kicked our tail in the first half, just to be honest. We really should have been down at half. There's a mentality, that's the first thing I told them. I mean, we were up at half. We didn't deserve to be up at half. We needed to be down five at half to get some urgency. But we got old guys and experienced guys.”

— John Shulman, Head Coach, UCA Bears (arkansasonline.com)

What’s next

The UCA Bears will look to continue their winning streak on Saturday, February 8th when they host Lipscomb University.

The takeaway

The UCA Bears showed their resilience by overcoming a slow start to pull away from North Alabama in the second half. Their ability to make adjustments and get contributions from multiple players will be key as they push for the Atlantic Sun Conference title.