Tigers Down UCO

1/30/2013 9:58:00 PM

Jamell Cormier

Box Score

HAYS, Kan. (Jan. 30) – Two final-minute turnovers helped curtail a late rally and Central Oklahoma dropped a 78-71 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association decision to Fort Hays State here Wednesday night at Gross Memorial Coliseum.

The Bronchos chopped an 11-point second-half deficit to two at 71-69 on Josh Gibbs' 3-pointer from the top of the key with 1:12 left to play, but UCO threw the ball away on its next two possessions and the Tigers made 7-of-8 free throws over the final 42.3 seconds to secure the win.

The loss ended UCO's four-game road conference winning streak, dropping the Bronchos to 7-11 on the year and 5-5 in the MIAA. FHSU improved to 12-6 and 6-4.

Spencer Smith came up big for UCO, hitting four 3-pointers and all eight free throws in a game-high 24-point outing while adding a game-best eight rebounds. Jamell Cormier had three treys in scoring 14 points and Gibbs finished with 13.

The Bronchos trailed 37-35 at halftime and were still within a bucket at 43-41 after a Smith layup before FHSU scored nine unanswered points to open up a 52-31 lead as UCO missed seven shots and had four turnovers.

It was still a nine-point hole (58-49) with 7:27 left, but Smith scored seven points in a three-minute span to pull the Bronchos within 64-60 and Cormier followed a FHSU bucket with a 3-pointer from the wing to make it 65-63 at the 3:00 mark.

Cormier came back with another trey a minute later to answer a FHSU 3-pointer that kept UCO within a bucket (68-66) and Gibbs' long-distance shot after a three-point play by the Tigers still had the Bronchos within two before the late turnovers ruined the comeback.

Gibbs and Smith had consecutive 3-pointers in the opening minute to stake UCO to a quick 6-2 lead before the Tigers came back to move in front 17-12 after five minutes. Treys by Jamell Cormier and Jacob Strassle in an 8-0 run put the Bronchos back on top 20-17 and another long-distance shot by Smith made it 25-22 at the 8:01 mark.

The lead was 31-29 after two Smith free throws with 4:24 left, but FHSU used an 8-1 run to grab its biggest lead of the half at 37-32 in the final minute before Seth Heckart pulled the Bronchos within 37-35 at the break with UCO's sixth 3-pointer of the half.

The Bronchos stay on the road for another MIAA contest Friday, taking on Nebraska-Kearney at 7:30 p.m. in Kearney, Neb.

Print Friendly Version

Related Videos

Related Stories