Cormier Comes Through

2/7/2013 10:55:00 PM

Jamell Cormier

Box Score
Photo Gallery

EDMOND (Feb. 7) – Jamell Cormier made two pressure-packed free throws with 3.9 seconds remaining to lift Central Oklahoma to a thrilling 69-67 upset of Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association leader Central Missouri Thursday night at Hamilton Field House.

Cormier calmly swished both charity tosses after being fouled driving to the basket and UCO's biggest win of the season was secure when Widgett Washington's desperation 40-foot heave was off the mark at the buzzer.

It was a much-needed home victory for the Bronchos, who were just 2-6 on their own court heading into the game and had lost four of those games by three points or less.

“We haven't played that well at home this year and had lost a lot of close games, but we did a great job pulling one out tonight,” head coach Terry Evans said. “It was a tough game and we found a way to get it done at the end.”

UCO improved to 9-11 on the season and 7-5 in the league while dropping the Mules to 15-5 and 9-3.

Josh Gibbs led four players in double figures, finishing with 21 points to go along with eight rebounds and five assists. Cormier, Christian Huffman and Cal Andrews had 14 points apiece, with Andrews adding a game-high and season-best 10 rebounds.

UCO led 38-35 at halftime and opened up a 49-40 lead on a Gibbs 3-pointer early in the second half before UCM used their defense to get back in the game, outscoring the Bronchos 11-2 over the next seven minutes to pull even at 51-all.

It was back-and-fourth the rest of the way.

Andrews had UCO on top 57-56 after hitting his fourth trey of the night at the 5:01 mark, but the Mules scored five unanswered points to go ahead 61-57 with 3:38 left to play.

Huffman's 3-pointer from the top of the key at 2:27 pulled the Bronchos within one and Cormier answered two UCM free throws with a long-distance dagger to tie it up 63-63 at the 1:34 mark.

The Mules went ahead 65-63 at 1:20 and again Cormier responded, with the cat-quick senior guard knifing through the UCM defense on a coast-to-coast layup eight seconds later that knotted the score once more.

UCO forced a turnover and Gibbs put the Bronchos ahead 67-65 on two free throws at 0:37 before the Mules made it 67-67 on two Washington foul shots at 0:14.

That set the stage for Cormier and he was up to the task.

UCO opened the game like it was going to blow the Mules away, hitting 10 of its first 13 shots in jumping out to a 23-11 lead just seven minutes after tip off.

Then it was UCM's turn as the Mules reeled off a 24-4 run to go up by eight (35-27) with 5:33 left before the Bronchos came back to score 11 straight points – six by Gibbs – in taking a 38-35 halftime advantage.

UCO will look to make it two in a row at home Saturday, hosting Lincoln in another MIAA contest at 3:30 p.m.

Print Friendly Version

Related Videos

Related Stories