Box Score
LAWTON, Okla. (Feb. 21) – Add another Lone Star Conference North Division championship to Central Oklahoma's resume.
Lance Harper and Brent Friday ignited a 16-3 second-half run that sparked the No. 9-ranked Bronchos to an 85-62 drubbing of Cameron here Saturday as UCO clinched at least a share of the LSC North title for the fourth time in five years.
It was the 12th win in 13 outings for the Bronchos, who improved to 22-3 overall and 9-1 in the LSC North with games remaining next week against Texas A&M-Commerce and Southwestern Oklahoma. The Lions and Bulldogs are tied for second in the North Division at 7-3.
It was also UCO's seventh straight road win dating back to early December, with the Bronchos using a potent offense, stingy defense and an overwhelming rebounding advantage to subdue the Aggies.
“We got off to a slow start again, but got things going toward the end of the half and played really well in the second half,” UCO coach Terry Evans said. “This can be a tough place to play and to come in here and win like this means a lot.”
UCO was off target most of the first half but ended up shooting 50.0 percent (31-of-62) for the game, including 60.0 percent (18-of-30) in the second half. The Bronchos also limited CU to 36.8-percent shooting (21-of-57) and won the battle of the boards 46-32.
Harper led the way with 24 points and nine rebounds, hitting 10-of-15 shots from the field. Friday was 7-of-10 shooting in scoring a season-high 16 points while adding five rebounds and three assists.
David Thomas chipped in 12 points, Michael Sosanya had nine points and eight rebounds and DeAngelo Garrett had seven boards and three blocked shots.
UCO led 38-34 at halftime and it was a slim 47-46 lead seven minutes into the second half when Friday and Harper got the Bronchos going.
Friday started the big run with a tip-in, Harper had a layup after a turnover and Friday answered one CU free throw with two of his to make it 53-47 before Harper worked inside for back-to-back layups and a 57-47 lead.
The Aggies ended a long drought with a bucket at the 10:36 mark, but UCO came right back with six consecutive points as Thomas made two foul shots then Victor Driver and Adam Terneus had back-to-back layups.
That made it 63-49 with 9:55 remaining and the Aggies got no closer than 12 the rest of the way.
UCO missed its first two shots and had two turnovers in falling behind 6-0 and it was a 17-9 deficit midway through the opening half. The Bronchos trailed 30-23 at the 5:01 mark before ending the half with a 15-4 run to go on top 38-34 at the break.
Thomas started that spurt with a 3-pointer from the top of the key and followed a CU turnover with a layup before Harper got an inside bucket off a Driver feed to tie it at 30-all.
The Aggies went back on top 33-30, but UCO came back with eight straight points – all on free throws – to make it 38-33 before Cameron got one foul shot in the final second to get within 38-34 at intermission.
