Box Score
EDMOND (Nov. 29) – Key performances off the bench by Adam Terneus and DeAngelo Garrett sparked No. 6-ranked Central Oklahoma to a hard-fought 83-76 triumph over Washburn Saturday night at Hamilton Field House on the final day of the OSSO Thanksgiving Classic.
Terneus scored five of his nine points in the final 54 seconds and nailed a 3-pointer that virtually sealed the outcome while Garrett had eight points and nine rebounds for the Bronchos, who improved to 7-0 in equaling the best start in school history.
It was also the 18th straight home win for UCO, which held a big 48-31 rebounding advantage in surviving a contest that featured 10 lead changes and five ties.
“We had some guys step up and make some big plays for us tonight,” UCO head coach Terry Evans said. “It was a tough game and we didn't shoot it very well, but we hit the boards and played hard the entire game.”
The Bronchos shot just 40.0 percent (28-of-70) from the field, but hit 18-of-23 free throws (78.3 percent) and committed only 12 turnovers.
Lance Harper scored a game-high 23 points for UCO, hitting 10-of-19 shots and pulling down six rebounds. Eric Cazenave added 17 points and six assists while David Thomas had another stellar all-around outing with 16 points, a career-high 11 rebounds and five assists.
The Bronchos led 45-39 at halftime, but Washburn came back to take a 57-55 lead seven minutes into the second half. UCO went back on top to stay at 59-57 on Harper's tip-in with 11:07 remaining and it became a six-point cushion at 63-57 following two Michael Sosanya free throws.
The Ichabods stayed close and were within two (68-66) at the 4:34 mark before Harper had a pair of inside buckets and Chance Hardaker a tough reverse layup in traffic in a 9-1 run that gave the Bronchos a 76-67 edge with 2:13 left to play.
Washburn came back with a layup and a 3-pointer after a UCO turnover to pull within 76-72 with 1:16 to go, but Terneus drilled a long trey from the wing at the 54-second mark to give the Bronchos a big seven-point lead.
Cazenave and Terneus each made a pair of free throws the rest of the way to keep UCO safely in front.
The Bronchos, who played without injured starter Tyler Phillips, got out to a 6-0 lead early in the game on a pair of Sosanya turnaround jumpers before WU came back with a 15-3 run to take a 15-9 lead.
UCO still trailed 33-31 with 4:48 left in the half, but got six points from Harper and five from Thomas in a closing 14-6 run to grab its 45-39 halftime lead.
The Bronchos return to action next week with two road games, going to West Texas A&M Thursday and Eastern New Mexico Saturday.
