Dillard provides leadership for UALR

LITTLE ROCK – Junior Ben Dillard started 14 of 32 games in 2012-13, averaging 6.4 points while knocking down 42.6 percent of his three-point shots and 79.7 percent of his free throw attempts. All of those numbers improved during Sun Belt play, when he averaged 7.1 points on 45.9 percent shooting from three-point range and 81.1 percent from the foul line.

“Just getting in the gym,” said Dillard of how he works to keep his jump shot consistent. “After so many years you get your stroke down, and then it’s just consistency and getting in the gym. Repetition is a lot of it. Getting up shots after practice, before practice – getting in game shots even though you’re not in the game. Just making sure you’re in rhythm once you get out there.”

Dillard scored a career-high 17 points on 5-of-10 shooting from the field and 3-of-6 shooting from three-point range against ULM on Dec. 1. He didn’t miss a shot at No. 11 Cincinnati, going 3 of 3 from the field, 2 of 2 from three-point range and 2 of 2 at the line. Assistant coach Robert Lee says that with Dillard connecting on such a high percentage from the field, the team wouldn’t mind seeing him take some more shots.

“Ben is a catch-and-shoot guy, and he does that well,” said Lee. “The first two years he’s shot a very good percentage from the three-point line. We’d like him to get more attempts up because he hasn’t taken enough shots, in my opinion, but he’s doing a better job of being able to get the ball to the paint and attack off the dribble.“

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