Ivey led the Chargers with 14 points. His unique scoop shot is reminiscent of old school basketball, something Acuff likes about his player.

"David's a throwback," Acuff said. "He came to us as a walk-on four years ago and he's one of the greatest stories we've ever had. He does a really good job for us."

UCA (18-10) coach Rand Chappell said he believed his defense could make the stop.

"We had held them to 46 points, we felt that we could get one last stop," Chappell said. "We had confidence in our defense."

Bears point guard Joey Cortez, who had a shot to win the game himself said Ivey made a good play.

"The kid made a pretty big play," Cortez said. "We knew they were going to set some sort of high screen and the kid made a big-time play. We probably should've done a little better job of help defense."

After the Ivey layup, Cortez took the ball in and got a step inside halfcourt when he let one fly. The ball was on target, but just short of the rim.

"I thought it was good," Cortez said. "I got off a pretty good look it was just a little short."

When Cortez let go of his shot the Chargers had flashbacks of their last home game of the year when North Alabama won the game in a similar fashion.

"When the shot went up I thought, OK, then saw that it was out," Acuff said. "I'm a man of faith and I think the basketball god might have shined down on that one and I was praying they'd block that one from going in."

The Bears trailed much of the second half after taking a 28-25 lead into the locker room at halftime. UCA shot just 4-of-20 in the second half, but made 9-of-12 free throws and that's what kept the Bears in the game.

With 2:21 and UAH looking to increase its lead to six, Stephin Booth blocked a shot and the Bears took off down the floor, Fred Campbell was fouled and hit a pair of free throws to cut the UAH lead to 44-42. On the Chargers next possession Daniel Easterly was called for traveling. UAH sent Campbell to the line for another pair of free throws. He hit them both and the game was tied at 44 with 1:23 remaining.

Easterly made up for his travel and hit a turnaround jumper in the lane on UAH's next possession to give the Chargers a 46-44 lead. On UCA's next possession Jones drove cross court and let go a sweeping hook shot in the lane. The shot missed but he was fouled and converted the two free throws that tied the game at 46.

Jones was the leading scorer for the Bears, the only in double figures, with 16 points. Campbell had 9 points and LeMar Phillips had 8.

The Bears ran out to a 7-2 lead to begin the game, but then cooled off. UAH took the lead with 11:59 left in the first half when Easterly hit a jumper in the lane to make it 10-9.

Jones tied the game at 23 with a pair of free throws at the three-minute mark in the first. That was the start of a 6-2 run for the Bears at the end of the half.

UCA shot 39.3 percent in the first. UAH shot 9-of-21 in both halves, good for 42.9 percent in the game.

The Bears dominated the rebounding 39-26, with UAH only grabbing three offensive boards.

"We don't run down trains and leap over tall buildings," Acuff said in response to his team's lack of offensive boards. "If you look at the conference stats we're so far behind everybody else in offensive rebounding they don't even know we're in the league."

Next up for UAH is a semifinal meeting with the No. 1 team in the nation tomorrow evening at 5:30 p.m.

"That's the best team to come out of this state," Acuff said. "I don't think Ole Miss or Mississippi State wants 'em. That is the No. 1 team in the country. But we'll be here tomorrow night at 5:30 p.m."