CONWAY, Ark. (Interstat) — In a rematch of an overtime thriller from three weeks prior, the Central Arkansas Bears used a dominant first-half performance and a career-high scoring effort from Camren Hunter to secure a 90-81 victory over the Eastern Kentucky Colonels in an ASUN Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at the Farris Center.

The game’s decisive stretch came early, as Central Arkansas established control with a stifling defensive effort that fueled its offense. The Bears forced 15 Eastern Kentucky turnovers, converting them into 13 points, while committing only six of their own. That disparity, combined with a significant 40-20 advantage in points in the paint, allowed Central Arkansas to build a commanding 40-27 halftime lead. The Colonels, who shot just 24 of 57 from the field for the game, struggled to find any offensive rhythm against the active Bears’ defense, which also recorded nine steals.

Hunter, the focal point of the Central Arkansas attack, was relentless. The guard poured in a game-high 32 points on efficient 12-of-19 shooting, adding seven rebounds, four assists and two blocks. His performance spearheaded an offense that operated with precision, posting an offensive rating of 114.9 points per 100 possessions. Luke Moore provided crucial playmaking with seven assists to go with 12 points, while Ty Robinson added 13 points. The Bears’ balance was evident as Javion Guy-King just missed a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds, and Cole McCormick chipped in 11 points off the bench.

Eastern Kentucky mounted a characteristic second-half surge, nearly doubling its first-half output with 54 points after the break. The Colonels relied heavily on the three-point shot, making 14 of 37 from beyond the arc, and generated 22 fast-break points to keep pressure on the Bears. A triple-double performance from MJ Williams fueled the comeback attempt. The 5-foot-10 guard from Rocky Mount, North Carolina, finished with 14 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists, orchestrating the offense and keeping his team within striking distance.

Jackson Holt and Jayden Harris each scored 16 points for Eastern Kentucky, with Harris adding six rebounds. Tyler Jackson contributed 14 points. Despite the improved second-half scoring, the Colonels could never fully close the gap they dug in the first half, consistently trailing by double digits for much of the final period. Central Arkansas answered every Eastern Kentucky run, maintaining an offensive efficiency that kept the Bears comfortably ahead.

The victory improved Central Arkansas to 12-10 overall and marked its third win in four conference games. Eastern Kentucky fell to 7-16 with the loss. The game drew an attendance of 1,128.

Central Arkansas next hosts North Alabama on Wednesday. Eastern Kentucky returns home to face Florida Gulf Coast on Thursday.