Bears snap 30-game road skid

THIBODAUX, LA. — Derreck Brooks had his best game since joining the Central Arkansas men’s basketball team and because of that, UCA finally won on the road.

Brooks, in his first season since transferring from Phoenix College, made his first eight shots from the field and scored a season-high 29 points for the Bears, who won a true road game for the first time in almost two years Saturday at Stopher Gym.

The victory snapped a 30-game losing streak in true road games for UCA (3-13, 2-4 Southland Conference), and it was Coach Russ Pennell’s first victory on an opponent’s home floor in 26 tries. The Bears’ last road victory came Jan. 30, 2014, at McNeese State under then-interim coach Clarence Finley.

Brooks made 5 of 7 three-pointers and the Bears were 10 of 20 from there as a team. Mathieu Kamba scored a season-high 21 points, while Jordan Howard had 16 points and Justin Foreman had 11.

Foreman’s biggest shot came with less than two minutes left, when Nicholls State had trimmed what was a 79-65 lead with 6:38 left to 82-80 with 1:43 left. With the shotclock winding down, Foreman made a three to make it 85-80 and the Bears were never threatened again.

The Bears shot 53.7 percent from the floor (36 of 67). T.J. Carpenter led Nicholls State (5-15, 1-5) with 23 points.

Upcoming Events