Game Statistics
ABILENE, Texas (Dec. 19) -- Dauntae Williams scored 20 points to lead five players in double figures and Central Oklahoma used a pair of first-half scoring runs to take control en route to an impressive 93-69 rout of Abilene Christian here Saturday afternoon.
The Bronchos ended a two-game losing streak with the 24-point drubbing in moving to 5-4 on the year going into a Monday night game at Angelo State.
UCO overwhelmed the Wildcats with aggressive defense, making 17 steals while forcing 29 turnovers. The Bronchos also shot 53.1 percent (34-of-64) from the field despite making just 3-of-16 (18.8 percent) 3-point tries.
Williams led the way, hitting 8-of-11 shots in a 20-point outing while adding nine rebounds, four assists, four steals and two blocked shots. Chris Rhymes and Chris McCleary scored 14 points apiece, Tyler Phillips added 11 and Shane Carroll had 10.
“We played with a lot more intensity and purpose than we have been and it showed,” UCO coach Terry Evans said. “We forced a lot of turnovers and were able to turn those into easy baskets. Everybody contributed and we came out with a good road win.”
The Bronchos had 14-1 and 17-4 runs in the first half to built a commanding 40-19 lead late in the first half and ACU never got closer than nine after that.
UCO committed five turnovers and trailed 9-7 five minutes into the contest, then got five points from Carroll and four from Rhymes in a 14-1 spree to move in front 21-10 midway through the opening half.
It was 23-15 at the 9:21 mark when the Bronchos unleashed another dominating stretch, forcing five turnovers in a 17-4 run that made it 40-19 with 4:35 left. Phillips had five points while Keith Marks and Blake Livingston had four apiece to pace that spurt.
UCO went cold the rest of the half, making just one of its last five field goal attempts and three free throws as the Wildcats ended the half with a 14-5 run to make it 45-33 at the break.
ACU cut that to nine points at 49-40 before the Bronchos regained control with a 12-2 run that made it 61-42. Eric Cazenave started it with a 3-pointer from the corner and ended it with a floating 12-footer, while Rhymes had back-to-back layups.
It became a 22-point advantage at 68-46 with 12:09 remaining on a Williams layup and the lead was 23 (74-51) at the 9:09 mark after consecutive buckets by the junior guard.
The Wildcats tried to get back in the contest and got within 16 at 76-60, but UCO reeled off 11 straight points to quickly ended any hopes of a miracle comeback. Cazenave highlighted that run with a steal and breakaway dunk, then came up with another steal and fed Chris McCleary for a one-handed jam as lead grew to 87-60 with 2:35 left.
