Box Score
COMMERCE, Texas (Feb. 25) – Scoring droughts in each half proved too much for Central Oklahoma to overcome here Wednesday night as the No. 7-ranked Bronchos suffered a 96-79 Lone Star Conference North Division setback to Texas A&M-Commerce.
UCO went over four minutes without scoring in the first half when A&M-C pushed a 19-17 lead to 35-17 and a three-minute dry spell early in the second half turned a 51-42 deficit into 59-42 one.
The Bronchos used a frantic rally to pull within four (73-69) in the final six minutes, but the Lions got breathing room with a 6-0 run and then pulled away.
UCO had a four-game winning streak stopped and lost for just the second time in 14 outings in falling to 22-4 on the year and 9-2 in the LSC North, while the Lions improved to 17-9 and 8-3.
The Bronchos end the regular season Saturday with an 8 p.m. home game against Southwestern Oklahoma, needing a win to earn the outright LSC North title over the second-place Bulldogs and Lions.
“We put ourselves in too big a hole and just couldn't overcome it,” UCO coach Terry Evans said. “We had way too many turnovers (21) and made too many mistakes to win on the road against a good team.”
Lance Harper led the Bronchos with 19 points, while DeAngelo Garrett had 14 points and a game-high nine rebounds and David Thomas 13 points.
The Lions shot 57.1 percent (32-of-56) from the field and 86.7 percent (26-of-30) from the line.
The Bronchos sprinted to an 8-0 lead just 1:40 into the contest, but A&M-C came back to tie it at 12-all before going in front 19-12. Harper had a three-point play and followed with a steal and driving layup to make it 19-17 with 8:53 left in the half.
UCO didn't score again until the 4:21 mark and by that time trailed 35-17 as the Lions scored 16 unanswered points. The Bronchos ended the half with a 12-5 run to get within 40-29 at intermission and got a bucket from Garrett to open the second half to make it 40-31.
It was a 51-42 deficit at 15:30, but UCO missed its next four shots and had four turnovers as the Lions went ahead 59-42.
The Bronchos clawed back in it, cutting the lead to single digits at 69-61 on a Thomas trey before moving within 73-69 on Thomas' three-point play with 5:43 remaining. A&M-C answered with six straight points to go up 79-69, used its free throw accuracy to stay in front and then pulled away with a late flurry.
