Box Score

TOPEKA, Kan. (Nov. 15) – Lance Harper scored 12 of his career-high 24 points in the first five minutes of the second half as No. 7-ranked Central Oklahoma broke open a close game en route to a season-opening 82-58 rout of Benedictine here Saturday on the first day of the Washburn Classic.

The Bronchos led just 37-34 at halftime, but Harper had 12 points in the first 4:30 of the second half to help push the lead to 53-42 and Chance Hardaker scored five points in a 9-0 run that followed to make it a 62-42 cushion.

Benedictine got no closer than 15 the rest of the way and UCO coasted in with the easy win. The Bronchos return Sunday at 1 p.m. to face Colorado Christian.

“We started a little slow, but played pretty well in the second half,” UCO coach Terry Evans said. “Our defense was good in the second half and we did a good job on the boards.”

UCO limited the Ravens to 34.9-percent shooting from the field and held a big 47-30 rebounding edge.

Harper hit 11-of-13 shots from the field in his 20-point outing while adding seven rebounds, three blocked shots and two steals to lead the Bronchos.  Tyler Phillips added 11 points and eight rebounds, while David Thomas and Brent Friday scored 10 apiece.

The game went back-and-forth most of the first half before UCO took the lead for good at 29-26 on a Hardaker 3-pointer and a late bucket got the Ravens within three (37-34) at intermission.

Harper took over early in the second half, making a layup six seconds into the period. He added two more layups, a short jumper and a slam dunk as the lead grew to 53-42 with 15:30 left to play.

The onslaught continued with Hardaker hitting two free throws and a trey, Thomas a jumper in the paint and Keith Marks a tip-in to push the lead to 62-42 with 11:31 remaining.