CONWAY, Ark. – The longest road trip of the season took a little longer than normal thanks to a winter weather system that slowed McNeese's pace on the highways, but the Cowboys hope the snowy weather outside give them a boost of "Frosty Magic" in the Farris Center on Tuesday night when the Pokes close out their road slate in a 7 p.m. Southland Conference matchup against Central Arkansas.
 
McNeese (10-15, 4-10 SLC) is coming off a disappointing 58-53 loss at Lamar on Saturday in a game that saw the Cowboys go as cold as the weather outside from the field in the last five minutes by making just two shots. UCA will go into Tuesday's game with just one win in 24 games, but the Bears' record shouldn't be anything to overlook, especially the way this series has gone the last three games.
 
During that time, UCA has won all three and with two of those by 1 point. The first of the three, the Bears nailed a 40-foot jumper at the buzzer to send the game into its first of three overtimes, which UCA won 103-98. That was also the last time the two teams have played in Conway.
 
The last two games, UCA won on a traditional three-point play for a 68-67 win on March 2, 2013, then held beat McNeese 76-75 on Jan. 30 of last year after a Desharick Guidry last second shot for the win fell off the mark. Both of those games were played in Lake Charles.
 
Guidry will be looking to redeem himself as the team's top scorer (17.4 ppg) and rebounder (11.5). The league's top rebounder and No. 1 ranked player in the nation with 18 double-doubles, has had great success against the Bears in four career games averaging 18.8 points and 11.3 rebounds while making 31 of 63 from the field including 6 of 11 from long range.
 
His best scoring game of the series came in that one where the Cowboys lost in the final second when he netted 24 points behind 9 of 17 shooting, including a career-high six 3-pointers made.
 
Helping out Guidry will be guard Kevin Hardy who is scoring at a 12.8 clip and pulling down 6.6 rebounds. He's second in the league with 2.6 steals per game and is averaging 14 points, 7 rebounds and 3 steals a game the last three outings.
 
The Bears' top scorer is freshman guard Jordan Howard who is averaging 16 points a game. UCA is expected to start three freshmen and two juniors in the lineup.
 
UCA's only win came against UNO by a 70-67 score on Feb. 7 but just four days earlier, the Bears took Northwestern State to the brink of defeat before the Demons pulled out a 110-108 victory. UCA has lost four straight games since that win and is coming off a 70-42 loss to Sam Houston State on Saturday.
 
Tuesday's game will be carried live on the McNeese Sports Network (Cajun Radio 1470/1290 AM) and online at CajunRadio.com.
 
The Cowboys will return home on Saturday to open up a three-game homestand against Nicholls to close out regular season play. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:05 at Burton Coliseum. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN3.