Box Score
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. (Feb. 7) – Michael Sosanya scored eight points during a 16-3 second-half run that put Central Oklahoma in control and the No. 3-ranked Bronchos went on to a 73-59 Lone Star Conference triumph over Northeastern State here Saturday.
UCO never trailed in avenging an 83-80 loss to the RiverHawks Wednesday in Edmond that ended an eight-game losing streak, but didn't put the game away until the Sosanya-fueled spurt that turned a precarious 43-42 lead into a 59-45 cushion with 10:08 left to play.
NSU never got closer than 11 the rest of the way as the Bronchos improved to 19-3 overall and stayed atop the LSC North standings at 6-1. The RiverHawks fell to 8-14 and 3-4.
“We made some adjustments after the first game and played pretty well,” UCO coach Terry Evans said. “Rebounding was a big key today. We didn't give them any second chances and did a great job with our perimeter defense.”
UCO was outrebounded 35-26 in Wednesday's loss, but won the battle of the boards 34-27 this time while also limiting NSU to 29.4-percent shooting (5-of-17) from 3-point range after allowing the RiverHawks to hit 10-of-17 long-range shots in the first game.
Lance Harper finished with 19 points and five rebounds to lead the Bronchos, while Sosanya ended with 17 in just 18 minutes of play before fouling out late in the contest. David Thomas chipped in 11 points.
UCO led 43-37 at halftime, but the RiverHawks scored five straight points to open the second half and get within 43-42.
A Brent Friday dunk ignited the 16-3 run that started with nine unanswered points – six by Sosanya – and a 51-42 lead. NSU broke its drought with a three-point play, but the Bronchos came back with seven straight points that ended with an Eric Cazenave steal and one-handed slam that made it 59-45 at the 10:08 mark.
The lead peaked at 16 (63-47) on Harper's driving layup with 6:51 remaining and the senior standout scored six points down the stretch to keep UCO safely in front.
UCO came out with a new starting lineup that included its trio of true freshmen – Friday, Victor Driver and Shane Carroll – and bolted to a quick 14-9 lead as Carroll had a driving layup and a 3-pointer from the wing.
The Bronchos built a nine-point advantage at 26-17 on a Keith Marks follow shot at the 7:44 mark, but NSU came back with a 10-2 run to get within 28-27.
Harper scored four points in the final 16 seconds to give UCO a 43-37 halftime edge, tipping in at miss at 0:16 and following an NSU free throw with a fast-break layup off a Friday feed just before the buzzer.
UCO returns home Wednesday to host LSC North rival East Central at 8 p.m.
