Williams Rescues UCO

2/19/2011 6:31:45 PM

Shane Carroll

Box Score

ADA, Okla. (Feb. 19) – Dauntae Williams scored 20 of Central Oklahoma's 22 points during a stretch spanning the first and second half and tied a career high with 37 as No. 7-ranked Central Oklahoma subdued upset-minded East Central 74-68 here Saturday afternoon.

Williams had UCO's final five points of the first half that ended with the Tigers on top 39-35 and then scored 15 of the team's 17 points in the first 11 minutes of the second half to spark the come-from-behind win. The senior All-American finished 12-of-20 from the field and 13-of-20 from the line while adding five steals, four rebounds and three assists.

The Bronchos, who beat ECU 94-56 on Jan. 29 in Edmond, improved to 22-3 overall and stayed in control of the Lone Star Conference North Division race at 8-1 with 12th win in 13 outings. UCO is back home Monday to host Northeastern State at 8 p.m.

“We got off to a good start and then seemed to relax a little,” UCO coach Terry Evans said. “They (ECU) started making some shots and they started playing with a lot of confidence. It was a tough game and we're just glad to get out of here with a win.”

The Bronchos were outrebounded 37-24 and made just 5-of-18 shots from 3-point range. Shane Carroll had three treys and 12 points off the bench, while Tyler Phillips added 11 points and five rebounds.

The Bronchos forced eight turnovers in the opening six minutes of the second half and Williams had a pair of layups and a dunk to put UCO on top 42-39 before getting a steal and feeding Brent Friday for a slam that made it 44-39.

ECU came back to tie it at 49 and 51 before Williams put the Bronchos on top to stay by making one of two free throws with 9:12 left to play. Carroll followed a quick turnover with a 3-pointer from the corner at 8:57 and Williams added two free throws at 8:28 to make it 57-51.

UCO opened up a 10-point advantage at 63-53 on two Carroll foul shots with 4:28 remaining, but the Tigers rallied again and three times pulled within four in the final minute. The Bronchos stayed in front at the charity stripe, getting two free throws apiece from Carroll and Victor Driver and one from Tyler Phillips.

UCO appeared well on its way to another easy win over the Tigers after bolting to a quick nine-point lead, going on top 19-10 barely six minutes in on Carroll's 3-pointer from the corner.

It was still a nine-point advantage at 21-12 on a Williams follow shot at the 11:10 mark, but the Bronchos missed five straight shots – three from the free throw line, two from the field – and committed two turnovers as ECU went on a 14-0 run to seize a 26-21 lead.

UCO came back to tie it at 28-all on another Carroll trey with 5:12 left in the half, but the Tigers went on to take a 39-35 lead into the break.

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