CONWAY, Ark. (Interstat) — Central Arkansas erased a 10-point halftime deficit to edge Jacksonville 62-60 in an ASUN Conference men’s basketball game Thursday night at Farris Center. The Dolphins led 35-25 at halftime but were outscored 37-25 after the break. The Bears secured the comeback victory in front of 922 fans, improving to 8-10 overall. Jacksonville fell to 6-12 with the narrow road loss. Central Arkansas was a pregame favorite, and the combined score fell below the projected total.

CONWAY, Ark. (Interstat) — In a game defined by a dramatic momentum shift and a frantic final minute, Luke Moore’s clutch free throws with three seconds remaining lifted Central Arkansas to a 62-60 victory over Jacksonville in an ASUN Conference men’s basketball thriller on Thursday night at the Farris Center. The Bears, who trailed by 10 points at halftime, completed a second-half comeback to edge the Dolphins before an announced crowd of 922. Jacksonville, led by Hayden Wood’s 18 points, controlled the first half with efficient perimeter shooting and took a 35-25 lead into the break. The Dolphins stretched their advantage to 12 points early in the second period before Central Arkansas began its methodical climb back. The Bears chipped away, fueled by Moore’s game-high 19 points and critical plays from Camren Hunter, who scored 13, and Cole McCormick, who added 12. A 10-2 run midway through the half brought Central Arkansas within striking distance, and the teams traded blows in a tense final five minutes. With the score tied at 60, Jacksonville’s Evan Sterck missed a three-pointer with 28 seconds left. Central Arkansas secured the rebound and called timeout to set up a final play. The ball found Moore, who was fouled by Sterck on a drive attempt with three seconds on the clock. Moore calmly sank the first free throw, missed the second, but the Bears retained possession when the rebound went out of bounds off a Jacksonville player. On the ensuing inbounds play, Moore was fouled again, this time by Hayden Wood with 0.3 seconds remaining. He made the first free throw to provide the final margin and intentionally missed the second. Jacksonville’s desperation heave from near midcourt was off target as time expired. The most critical sequence of the game unfolded in the final 15 seconds. After Moore’s initial free throws gave Central Arkansas a one-point lead, Jacksonville had a chance to win or tie. Following a timeout, the Dolphins inbounded to Evan Sterck, but his contested three-point attempt from the wing was off the mark. Jason Thirdkill grabbed the offensive rebound and scored on a putback, but officials ruled the basket came after the final horn, sealing the Bears’ victory. Sterck finished with 12 points for Jacksonville, while Chris Lockett contributed 11. The Dolphins’ offense, so fluid in the first half, managed only 25 points after halftime, shooting just 29% from the field in the final period. Central Arkansas improved its season record to 8-10 overall. Jacksonville fell to 6-12. The Bears’ comeback negated a strong individual performance from Wood, a Springdale, Arkansas, native playing in his home state. The 6-foot-4 guard hit four three-pointers in the first half to spark Jacksonville’s early dominance but was limited after the break. Defense keyed the Central Arkansas rally, as the Bears forced 12 Jacksonville turnovers and held the Dolphins without a field goal for a crucial four-minute stretch late in the game. Donovan Rivers provided a defensive spark for Jacksonville with two blocks, but the Dolphins could not sustain their early energy. The game was a tale of two halves statistically. Jacksonville shot 48% in the first half but just 29% in the second. Central Arkansas flipped the script, improving from 33% shooting before halftime to 46% after it. Both teams return to ASUN play on Saturday. Jacksonville travels to face North Alabama, while Central Arkansas hosts North Florida.

CONWAY, Ark. (Interstat) — Two ASUN Conference men’s basketball teams seeking momentum will meet Thursday when the Central Arkansas Bears host the Jacksonville Dolphins at the Farris Center. Both teams enter the Jan. 15 matchup with sub-.500 overall records. Jacksonville is 6-11, while Central Arkansas sits at 7-10. The game represents a chance for either squad to climb toward the middle of the conference standings. The Dolphins are coming off a 75-43 rout of West Georgia on Saturday, a much-needed victory that snapped a five-game losing streak. Guard Hayden Wood, a key player to watch for Jacksonville, logged 30 minutes in that win, contributing 13 points, three rebounds and four assists. Wood’s production has fluctuated; he scored 13 points in a loss at Florida State last month but was held to a single point in a Jan. 1 defeat at Lipscomb. Central Arkansas looks to bounce back from a pair of narrow overtime road losses last week. The Bears fell 79-75 at Eastern Kentucky on Saturday and 84-78 at Bellarmine on Jan. 8. The Bears are led by guard Camren Hunter, who has been on a scoring tear. Hunter poured in 25 points in the overtime loss at Eastern Kentucky and averaged 22.5 points over his last four games, including a 21-point, five-assist performance in a 93-73 win over Stetson on Jan. 3. Jacksonville’s offense will need consistent contributions beyond Wood. Chris Lockett (18 points) and Jason Thirdkill (13 points) were instrumental in the win over West Georgia. Central Arkansas counters with Hunter and forward Luke Moore, who scored 17 points in the team’s last outing. The Dolphins have struggled on the road this season, with all six of their wins coming at home. Central Arkansas has been stronger in Conway, posting a 5-2 record at the Farris Center, including conference wins over Stetson and Florida Gulf Coast earlier this month. Thursday’s contest is the first of two regular-season meetings between the programs this season. They are scheduled to meet again in Jacksonville on Feb. 26.