CONWAY, Ark. -- The University of the Incarnate Word men's basketball team faces its first Southland Conference challenge with a matchup against Central Arkansas at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 18, at the Farris Center.
 
The Cardinals are coming off a decisive 101-65 win against Trinity, while the Bears are looking to put an end to their eight-game losing streak.
 
"With final exams behind 'em, I know the fellas are eager to hit the hardwood again for a game and it's exciting to be starting Southland play," Cardinals coach Carson Cunningham said. "The league is tough and we know Central Arkansas is a big challenge. Their record is deceiving because they've played a brutal schedule. It'll be fun to get after it."
 
TIPOFF COVERAGE
Live stream: Bear Nation Network
 
SERIES HISTORY
The Cardinals are 6-2 all-time against the Bears.
 
KEEPING UP WITH KEASTON
Freshman guard Keaston Willis has scored in double figures in six of the last seven games, averaging 12.7 points per game during that stretch. He currently leads the team in scoring (10.6 points per game) and 3-pointers made (22).
 
MENACING MISZKIEWICZ
Freshman forward Vincent Miszkiewicz is ranked fifth in the conference with his team-leading 8.1 rebounds per game. He's also top-10 in the conference in blocks per game (1.0).
 
FRESHMEN FRENZY
UIW's freshmen class has accounted for 56.5 percent of the Cardinals' scoring this season, led by Willis (10.6 per game), Drew Lutz (9.9) and Miszkiewicz (6.9).
 
TEAM DEFENSE
The Cardinals are holding opponents to just 40.8 percent shooting from the field - good for third in the conference. 
 
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION

• The Bears (1-9)  are off to an inauspicious start to the season, due in large part to the rigorous schedule they've played to this point. UCA has faced basketball powers Duke, Georgetown and Wichita State, as well as formidable power-five opponents, Baylor and Utah. 
• With one of the most difficult schedules in the country played to date, UCA's statistics aren't exactly an accurate representation of the quality of the team that was picked to finish fifth in the conference preseason poll. As it stands, the Bears are last in the Southland Conference in field goal percentage, turnover margin and assist-to-turnover ratio and they're second-to-last in scoring margin (-18.8).
• UCA has a talented roster with a good mix of youth and experience. The Bears return two of their top-three scorers from last year in DeAndre Jones and Hayden Koval, who each averaged 12.5 points per game last year. 
• Sophomore forward Eddy Kayouloud has put together a breakout season, leading the team in scoring (15.1) and rebounding (6.5)
• Koval, the 7'0" junior center, is averaging a conference-best 3.5 blocks per game. 

STAY TUNED 
For the most up-to-date information on UIW Athletics, visit uiwcardinals.com, follow the Cardinals on Twitter @UIWAthletics.
The UIW men's basketball team is on Twitter at @UIWMBB and Instagram at @uiwmensbasketball.