Bronchos Drop League Opener To Pitt State

12/6/2012 9:55:00 PM

Spencer Smith

Box Score

PITTSBURG, Kan. (Dec. 7) – A first-half dry spell put Central Oklahoma in a big hole and the Bronchos never quite recovered in falling to Pittsburg State 81-70 here Thursday night in their first-ever Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association game.

UCO missed seven straight shots during one stretch and made just 8-of-27 field goal tries (29.6 percent) in the opening 20 minutes to trail 45-22 at the break. The Bronchos tried to rally in the second half and battled back within eight in the final stages before PSU closed it out.

It was the sixth straight loss for UCO, which fell to 1-6 overall and 0-1 in the league. The Gorillas improved to 6-1 and 1-0.

The Bronchos limited PSU to one field goal in the first 13 minutes of the second half to get back in the contest, though the Gorillas made 15-of-23 free throws in that span to stay in front.

Rico Hogan and Seth Heckart hit 3-pointers to spark a 10-0 run that trimmed a 21-point deficit to 11 at 50-39 with 14:00 left to play and UCO was within 10 (62-52) following a James Watson free throw at the 7:39 mark.

PSU increased its lead back to 15 (71-56) with 4:40 remaining, but the Bronchos didn't back down and again rebounded. A Heckart trey again got UCO within at 73-63 at the 2:32 mark, with Spencer Smith's steal and layup at 1:20 making it an eight-point game at 76-68.

But the Bronchos were forced to foul and the Gorillas made 5-of-6 free throws to close out the game.

PSU ended up shooting 49 free throws, making 34, as UCO was whistled for 32 fouls. The Bronchos ended up shooting 39.3 percent (24-of-61) from the field, 28.6 percent (6-of-21) from 3-point range and 61.5 percent (16-of-26) from the line.

Smith and James Watson had 10 points apiece to lead UCO, with Jamell Cormier and Josh Gibbs adding nine each.

UCO's only lead came at 3-2 on a Smith 3-pointer 40 seconds into the contest, though the Gorillas answered with a 7-0 run to take the lead for good at 9-3. The Bronchos were within one (9-8) on June Carter's short turnaround jumper and it was just a two-point deficit (11-9) after Carter made one of two free throws.

UCO then missed its next seven shots and PSU scored 11 unanswered points to open up a big 22-9 lead, with the margin growing to 16 (30-14) and then 20 (37-17). Jamell Cormier had a driving layup and 3-pointer to get the Bronchos within 15 at 37-22, but the Gorillas scored the final five points to take the commanding 23-point halftime cushion.

UCO moves on to Bolivar, Mo. Saturday to take on Southwest Baptist at 7:30 p.m. in another league tilt.

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