Conway, Ark. – Junior Shawn Johnson grabbed two crucial offensive rebounds and was fouled with two seconds left, making the game-winning free throw as UIW men's basketball won a season-high four-straight win, 81-80, over Central Arkansas Saturday afternoon from the Farris Center.

HOW IT HAPPENED

UCA (4-18 overall, 3-6 SLC) scored the game's first seven points before a Sam Burmeister trey stopped the bleeding. The Bears led by as many as 15 in the opening half and took a 50-36 lead into the locker room. UCA shot 55 percent from the floor in the first half and forced eight UIW turnovers.

A jumper by Matheiu Kamba at the 17:14-mark of the second half gave UCA its largest lead of the game at 57-40, forcing a Cardinal timeout.

UIW (10-10 overall, 5-4 SLC) proceeded on a 21-4 run to tie the game at 61-all following a Jalin Hart triple with 9:29 remaining in regulation. Tyler Singleton hit a three-pointer on the next Cardinal possession, giving the visitors a 64-61 lead.

The teams battled back and forth until Johnson hit a three-pointer to give UIW an 80-75 lead with 55 seconds left in the game, but was quickly answered with a triple by Derreck Brooks. A steal and a fastbreak layup by Jeff Lowery tied the game at 80-all with 13 seconds to go. On the next UIW possession, Johnson had two offensive rebounds and was eventually fouled with two seconds left in regulation. He made the first and missed the second, giving UIW the one-point win.

LEADERS

Simi Socks paced the UIW offense for the second-straight game, dropping 20 points with two rebounds, six assists, one block, and two steals. Johnson and Hart finished with 16 and 15 points, respectively. As a team, the Cardinals shot 46 percent from the floor. The win was the first UIW had by trailing by 17 or more points since it defeated UMKC in triple overtime, 110-104, on December 20, 2014.

Kamba scored a game-high 25 points to lead UCA, while Jordan Howard and Brooks followed with 18 and 16 points, respectively. As a team, the Bears shot 47 percent from the floor.

UP NEXT

UIW hosts McNeese on Thursday, Feb. 2 at 7:30 p.m. in a "Black Out Game."

STAY TUNED

The Cardinals open a three-game road trip at HBU on Saturday, Feb. 4 at 7 p.m.

For the most up-to-date information on UIW Athletics visit uiwcardinals.com. Be sure to follow UIW Athletics on Twitter @UIWAthletics and like UIW Athletics on Facebook at UIW Athletics.