Box Score
WARRENSBURG, Mo. (March 14) -- Central Oklahoma picked a bad time to experience one of its worst shooting games of the season.
The No. 13-ranked Bronchos shot just 37.7 percent (29-of-77) from the field -- missing six straight shots during one crucial stretch -- and saw its season come to an end with a stunning 89-75 setback to Dallas Baptist here Saturday afternoon in the first round of the NCAA Division II South Central Regional.
UCO owned a decided inside advantage against the Patriots but couldn't capitalize, missing repeatedly from close range -- and long range -- in having its second-worst shooting game of the season. The Bronchos also struggled from the free throw line again, hitting only 10-of-20 attempts (50.0 percent).
DBU, meanwhile, shot 50.9 percent (27-of-53) from the field and made 9-of-17 3-pointers (52.9 percent) and 26-of-30 free throws (86.7 percent).
UCO cut an 11-point deficit to two (53-51) with 11:57 left to play and appeared to have the momentum, but then missed its next six shots and two free throws while the Patriots made five consecutive buckets -- including three 3-pointers -- in a 16-0 run that made it 69-51 with 7:17 remaining.
The Bronchos got no closer than 11 the rest of the way and DBU polished off the upset to move into Sunday's semifinals. UCO, which won the South Central Regional last year in making the Elite Eight, finished the season 24-6.
"It comes down to making shots and we just didn't do that," UCO coach Terry Evans said. "We got the looks we wanted and it was one of those days when nothing was falling for us. It's a disappointing loss, but it doesn't take away from the season we had and everything that we accomplished."
Eric Cazenave led the Bronchos with 21 points, while senior standout Lance Harper ended his career with a 17-point, 10-rebound outing before fouling out late in the contest. UCO also got 13 points and three blocked shots from DeAngelo Garrett and 10 points from Victor Driver.
UCO scored five points in the final 27 seconds of the half to get within 36-30 at intermission as Cazenave drilled a 3-pointer at 0:27 and Garrett drove in for a layup just before the buzzer after making a steal.
Driver opened the second half with a layup to cut it to 36-32, but the Patriots stayed in front and upped the lead to 11 (49-38) before the Bronchos made their final push.
Shane Carroll started a 13-4 run with a 3-pointer and Garrett scored six straight points before Harper finished the spurt with back-to-back layups that pulled UCO at the 11:57 mark. Momentum appeared to be with the Bronchos, but it quickly disappeared as DBU heated up from outside.
Three 3-pointers fueled the Patriots' 16-0 run that made it 69-51 and UCO was forced to play catch up the rest of the contest to no avail.
It was the final game for four seniors -- Harper, Garrett, David Thomas and Adam Terneus.
