Overtime Loss

2/27/2013 11:07:00 PM

Spencer Smith

Box Score

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. (Feb. 27) – Free throw shooting throughout the game and a cold spell in overtime proved costly to Central Oklahoma here Wednesday in an 83-71 loss to Northeastern State.

The Bronchos made just 12-of-24 foul shots in the contest and went 1-of-8 from the field in the five-minute extra session to drop their second straight Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association road game.

The loss knocked UCO out of contention for a top-four finish that would have earned it a first-round bye in the MIAA Post-season Tournament, though the Bronchos are assured of hosting an opening-round game Monday night at Hamilton Field House.

UCO fell to 12-13 on the season and 10-7 in the conference, dropping to seventh in the standings. The RiverHawks improved to 19-7 and 12-6 in their regular season finale.

The Bronchos end the regular season Saturday with a 3:30 p.m. home game against Missouri Southern.

UCO had a 68-66 lead with 1:33 left in regulation after Josh Gibbs made one of two free throws and the Bronchos rebounded an NSU miss at 1:08, but gave the ball back on a turnover and the RiverHawks tied it with 13 seconds left.

Jamell Cormier's potential game-winning jumper was off the mark with one second left to send the game to overtime and it was all NSU in the extra period

The RiverHawks scored six unanswered points to open OT as UCO missed four straight shots, with Cormier ending that drought with a short jumper and then adding a free throw to complete a three-point play at 2:41 that pulled the Bronchos within 74-71.

But UCO wouldn't score again and NSU pulled away to complete a two-game season sweep between the two teams.

Spencer Smith led the Bronchos with 21 points and eight rebounds, hitting 6-of-13 shots and 7-of-8 free throws. Cormier ended with 19 points, six assists and four steals and Gibbs chipped in 18 points.

UCO trailed by as many as six in the first half before rallying to take a 42-38 lead at intermission on Cormier's last-second 3-pointer.

The Bronchos led the first 10 minutes of the second half before NSU moved in front by a slim margin and the game went back-and-forth the rest of the way.

The RiverHawks were up 66-64 with 4:09 left, but Gibbs hit a trey 10 seconds later to put UCO in front and the junior guard broke a long drought by both teams at 1:33 by making one of two free throws for a 68-66 lead.

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