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Lions End UCO Streak

June Carter
Box Score

JOPLIN, Mo. (Feb. 25) – Central Oklahoma suffered a big blow to its Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association title hopes Monday with an 85-77 setback to Missouri Southern 85-77.
 
The loss ended a five-game winning streak and dropped the Bronchos to 12-12 overall and 10-6 in the league with games remaining Wednesday at Northeastern State and Saturday at home against the Lions in the regular season finale.
 
Central Missouri leads the tight MIAA race at 12-4, with Washburn and Fort Hays State both 11-5, NSU 11-6 and UCO, Lindenwood and Northwest Missouri all 10-6.  The RiverHawks have one game remaining and the rest have two more.
 
The top-four teams earn first-round byes for the MIAA Post-season Tournament, with the Bronchos needing to win their final two games while Washburn loses at least one to secure a top-four finish.

Teams 5-8 host teams 9-12 in four opening-round games next Monday.  The four bye teams and four first-round winners advance to Kansas City, Mo. for the final three rounds.
 
UCO shot just 37.9 percent (22-of-58) from the field, including only 29.6 percent (8-of-27) from 3-point range in the physical contest that featured 58 fouls and saw the teams attempt a combined 83 free throws.
 
The Bronchos had two players foul out and five others had four fouls at the end of the game as MSSU attempted 50 foul shots, hitting 33.
 
Jamell Cormier led UCO with 19 points and three assists, hitting 8-of-9 free throws.  Josh Gibbs added 12 points, while Christian Huffman and June Carter had 11 each and Spencer Smith 10.
 
The Bronchos led most of the early going and was up 16-13 after two Nic Combs free throws, but MSSU reeled off eight straight points to move in front 21-16.  Cormier tied it at 21-all on three foul shots and it was close the rest of the half, with a Carter jumper and Seth Heckart 3-pointer giving UCO a 40-37 halftime advantage.
 
UCO's lead peaked at 46-40 four minutes into the second half on a Carter bucket before the Lions rallied.  Two Smith free throws tied the game at 52-52 with 10:49 remaining, but MSSU went on a 9-1 to go up 61-53 and the Bronchos got no closer than three the rest of the way.
  
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