Central Arkansas opened ASUN play with an 85-83 win over Florida Gulf Coast on Thursday night at the Farris Center, rallying from a halftime deficit to edge the Eagles in a back-and-forth conference opener.
The Bears, now 6-8 overall and 1-0 in ASUN action, trailed 40-37 at the break before outscoring FGCU 48-43 in the second half. Florida Gulf Coast fell to 6-8 overall and 0-1 in league play.
FGCU controlled much of the first half, jumping out to an early lead and holding off a late Central Arkansas push. A 3-pointer from Camren Hunter late in the half helped the Bears close the gap, but the Eagles still carried a three-point advantage into intermission.
The second half featured frequent lead changes, beginning when Ty Robinson tied the game at 40 with a 3-pointer just under a minute in. Robinson continued his hot shooting throughout the half, finishing with a game-high 27 points on 7-of-10 shooting from beyond the arc, marking his second straight game with at least 27 points.
Hunter and Javion Guy-King provided steady production to keep Central Arkansas in front down the stretch. Robinson knocked down another key 3-pointer with 2:01 remaining to give the Bears an 80-77 lead. FGCU stayed within striking distance, cutting the margin to two in the final seconds, but Central Arkansas sealed the win with free throws and defensive rebounds.
Hunter added 17 points, went a perfect 4-for-4 at the free-throw line, and grabbed a career-high seven defensive rebounds. Guy-King finished with 16 points and six rebounds, while Cole McCormick chipped in 12 points on 4-of-4 shooting from the field.
Central Arkansas returns to action Saturday, Jan. 3, hosting Stetson at the Farris Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m.
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