University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

Bronchos Rally Past Emporia State

1/27/2013 6:32:00 PM

Spencer Smith

Box Score

EMPORIA, Kan. (Jan. 27) – Josh Gibbs and Spencer Smith scored four points apiece in a late-game rally that put Central Oklahoma in front and the Bronchos squeezed past Emporia State 77-71 here Sunday afternoon at White Auditorium.

UCO trailed 61-57 with 7:21 left to play before Gibbs and Smith made back-to-back layups to tie it by the 6:19 mark. Smith hit two free throws after rebounding an ESU miss at 5:26 to give the Bronchos the lead for good, with Gibbs doing the same 30 seconds later to make it 65-61.

Josh Davis answered a Hornet 3-pointer with one of his own at 4:12 to keep UCO in front by four and the Bronchos hit 7-of-10 free throws over the final 1:18 to stay safely in front.

UCO ended a two-game Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association losing streak with the win, improving to 7-10 overall and 5-4 in the league. The Hornets fell to 8-8 and 3-5.

“That was another big conference win for us on the road,” said head coach Terry Evans, whose team is now 4-1 in MIAA away games. “We didn't panic when we got down in the second half and did a great job coming back. We made a lot of big plays on both ends of the floor in the last seven minutes.”

Gibbs led the Bronchos, hitting 7-of-11 shots with three 3-pointers and 8-of-10 foul shots in scoring a game-high 25 points while adding a game-best nine rebounds and five assists.

Cal Andrews had 16 points with four treys, Smith scored 12 of his 15 points in the second half and Jamell Cormier chipped in 12 points and four assists.

UCO led most of the early going and was up by five (24-19) after a Cormier layup at the 8:18 mark, but the Hornets responded with a 12-3 run to take a 31-27 lead and was up 35-32 at the break.

ESU pushed its advantage to nine (55-46) with 11:16 left to play, but Andrews bombed in three straight 3-pointers in a 59-second span to pull UCO even and it was close the rest of the way.

The Bronchos continue their three-game league road trip Wednesday, traveling to Hays, Kan. To take on Fort Hays State.

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