Conway, Arkansas – In an exciting matchup on Saturday, Layne Taylor shone brightly, scoring 29 points to help Central Arkansas secure a 71-65 win against Bellarmine.

Taylor also contributed significantly on the boards, bringing in five rebounds for the Bears, who now hold a season record of 5 wins and 10 losses, alongside 1 win and 1 loss in the Atlantic Sun Conference.

Elias Cato was another standout for the Bears, netting 21 points with an impressive shooting performance; he went 7 for 8 overall, including 2 for 3 beyond the arc, and also sank 5 of 7 free throws. Additionally, he pulled down seven rebounds. Ben Fox chipped in with 9 points, successfully making 3 of his 9 attempts from three-point territory.

On the other side, Bellarmine struggled throughout the game, despite Billy Smith’s strong performance, where he led the Knights with 21 points. Jack Karasinski contributed as well, finishing with 8 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists. Dezmond McKinney also made his presence felt, recording 8 points and 6 rebounds for Bellarmine, who now have a record of 3 wins and 12 losses, including 0 wins and 2 losses in conference play.

Looking ahead, both teams will be back in action this Thursday, with Central Arkansas set to take on Stetson and Bellarmine facing off against Jacksonville at home.