UCO Survives In Double OT, Makes Finals

3/5/2011 3:59:21 PM

Jarrod McDaniel

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BARTLESVILLE, Okla. (March 5) – A glance at the rebounding numbers would indicate Central Oklahoma didn't fare so well in the Lone Star Conference Men's Basketball Championship semifinals here Saturday afternoon.

West Texas A&M dominated the boards 53-29, but the No. 7-ranked Bronchos pulled down four big rebounds in the second overtime and overcame last-minute free throw woes to survive 66-63 in a fierce defensive struggle.

UCO improved to 27-3 – the second-most wins in school history – and moved into Sunday's 1 p.m. finals against Tarleton State. The win ended a five-game LSC Tournament losing streak to the No. 24 Buffs, who also beat the Bronchos 67-60 during the regular season.

Click here for the tournament website, which includes live video and live stats. Click here for the UCO radio broadcast.

“We knew it was going to be a tough game and I'm just glad to get the win,” said ninth-year UCO coach Terry Evans, who improved to 12-4 in overtime games with the Bronchos. “Our zone defense was outstanding in holding them to 33 percent, but our rebounding was non-existent.

“All in all it was a win. We're going to take it and move on.”

The Buffaloes scored the last seven points of regulation to force overtime and then overcame a four-point deficit in the first extra session, but UCO never trailed in the second OT after Victor Driver's 10-foot jumper broke a 61-all tie 50 seconds in.

Dauntae Williams rebounded a WT miss and then hit a short turnaround jumper in the lane to push the lead to 65-61, with the Bronchos getting clutch defensive boards from Brent Friday and Carl Curry on the Buffs' next two possessions to keep that four-point advantage.

Tyler Phillips made one of two free throws with 1:05 remaining to make it 66-61 and Tucker Phillips rebounded another WT miss 10 seconds later, but Driver was off the mark on two foul shots at 0:41 and Tyler Phillips missed two at 0:33 after a Lionel Foster bucket had pulled the Buffs within 66-63.

But the Bronchos held on – barely – when WT missed two 3-point tries in the final 12 seconds, including a shot that was just short off the front rim as the buzzer sounded.

Williams scored a game-high 21 points while adding seven rebounds, four steals and two blocked shots to lead UCO. Tyler Phillips ended up with 13 points, Friday contributed 11 points and a team-best eight rebounds and Driver had 10 points.

The Buffs roared to a 7-0 lead just two minutes into the game, but UCO responded with a 16-1 run. Friday had five points in the spurt that ended with Tyler Phillips' 3-pointer from the wing to make it 16-8.

The Bronchos pushed their lead to 14 (27-13) at the 3:43 mark on a pair of Friday free throws and settled for an eight-point halftime cushion (28-20).

UCO never lost the lead in the second half and had a seven-point advantage at 54-47 following two Williams free throws with 2:57 left, but the Bronchos missed their final three shots and had a pair of turnovers as WT finished with a 7-0 run to force overtime.

Tyler Phillips' 3-pointer early in OT helped stake UCO to a 60-56 lead and again the Buffs rallied, tying it at 61 on Joe Mincey's running 10-footer with 1.7 seconds left.

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