Box Score

OKLAHOMA CITY (Nov. 4) – Lance Harper scored seven of his 20 points in the final four minutes to key a frantic late rally that lifted Central Oklahoma to a thrilling 79-76 exhibition game victory over Oklahoma Christian here Tuesday night.

The Bronchos trailed by 12 (71-59) with 5:24 remaining, but got points from five different players in a 16-0 run to take a 75-71 lead with 43 seconds left en route to the come-from-behind win.

Freshman Brent Friday ignited the late scoring spree with a basket at the 5:17 mark and Harper scored at 3:49 and again at 2:44 as UCO pulled within 71-69. Michael Sosanya's inside bucket tied it with 1:58 remaining and Harper gave the Bronchos their first lead of the game 30 seconds later.

David Thomas made two free throws to end the scoring blitz and make it 75-71 with 43 seconds remaining, with two more foul shots by Thomas and one each by Harper and Tyler Phillips keeping the Eagles at bay the rest of the way.

“It wasn't pretty by any stretch, but we hung in there and battled all the way,” UCO coach Terry Evans said. “We looked down and out a couple of times, but our guys just refused to lose. We made some big plays offensively and defensively down the stretch and pulled out a tough one.”

Harper and Thomas finished with 20 points apiece to lead the Bronchos, with Harper adding 10 rebounds. Sosanya added 18 points and seven boards as UCO overcame a 1-of-16 performance from 3-point range.

The Bronchos, ranked as high as seventh in the preseason NCAA Division II polls, missed nine of their first 10 shots in falling behind 15-2 seven minutes into the game and OC led by as many as 17 before setting for a 43-27 halftime advantage.

UCO opened the second half with a 12-2 run to get within six (45-39), but OC soon regained its double-digit lead and held it until the late rally.

The Bronchos finish their two-game exhibition schedule next Tuesday at Hamilton Field House against a UCO alumni team before opening the season for real at the Washburn Classic Nov. 15-16.