University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

Bears Top UCO In Exhibition

11/5/2009 10:33:18 PM

Tyler Phillips

Game Statistics

WACO, Texas (Nov. 5) – A five-minute second-half surge gave Baylor the lift it needed to turn back pesky Central Oklahoma here Thursday night as the Bronchos dropped an 86-71 exhibition decision before 5,239 Ferrell Center fans.

UCO trailed just 38-33 at halftime and was within range at 55-48 midway through the second half before the Bears went on an 21-5 run to grab control. That gave BU a 76-53 cushion at the 5:22 mark, with the Bronchos hitting four 3-pointers down the stretch in getting within the final 15-point margin.

“We didn't shoot the ball very well and made a lot of mistakes, but it was a great learning experience for us,” UCO coach Terry Evans said. “We played hard and didn't back down.”

The Bronchos, ranked 17th in NCAA Division II, shot just 36.5 percent (23-of-63) from the field and 54.2 percent (13-of-24) from the free throw line. Baylor, coming off a runner-up finish in last year's NIT, shot 50.0 percent (31-of-62) from the field and outrebounded UCO 49-36.

Tyler Phillips and Chris Rhymes scored 16 points apiece to lead the Bronchos, with Phillips hitting four 3-pointers and pulling down a team-high eight rebounds while Rhymes had three treys and four assists. Dauntae Williams added 15 points.

UCO led only once, at 3-2 on a Phillips 3-pointer a minute into the contest. The Bears came back with a 6-0 run to go on top 8-3 and took their biggest first-half lead at 33-23 with 5:27 left.

The Bronchos used three-point plays by Williams and Brent Friday to draw within 33-31 at 4:19 before BU took its 38-33 halftime lead.

UCO stayed close the first 10 minutes of the second half and was down just 55-48 after a short Williams jumper with 10:38 remaining, but the Bears responded with their big run to break the game open.

The Bronchos continue their exhibition schedule Saturday with a 7 p.m. contest against Oklahoma State at Gallagher-Iba Arena.

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