Bronchos Move On In MIAA Tourney

3/7/2013 11:41:00 PM

Spencer Smith

Box Score

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (March 7) – Spencer Smith scored a career-high 27 points and Central Oklahoma led nearly the entire way in knocking off Washburn 99-88 in the quarterfinals of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Post-season Tournament here late Thursday night.

The sixth-seeded Bronchos jumped out to an early lead and trailed only briefly in beating the No. 3-seeded Ichabods for the second time this season to advance to Saturday afternoon's semifinals against Central Missouri.

Top-seeded Fort Hays State routed Missouri Southern 79-60, No. 5 Northwest Missouri trimmed fourth-seeded Northeastern State 69-65 and No. UCM beat Pittsburg State 69-63 in the other quarterfinal games. Saturday's schedule has FHSU and NWMSU playing at noon, with UCO taking on the Mules at 2:15 p.m.

Smith hit 8-of-13 shots from the field with four 3-pointers and was 7-of-8 from the line in his career-best 27-point outing while adding 10 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season.

The Bronchos also got 20 points, five rebounds and five assists from Jamell Cormier, with Josh Gibbs adding 19 points and six rebounds and June Carter 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting off the bench.

It was the eight win in the last 10 games for UCO, which improved to 15-13 with its sixth win in the last seven outings against the Ichabods.

“We got off to a great start and played well the entire game,” head coach Terry Evans said. “Our team is playing with a lot of confidence and we want to keep our season going as long as we can.”

It was tied 43-43 at halftime and WU took its first lead of the game with the opening bucket of the second half, but the Bronchos moved in front to stay on Smith's 3-pointer at the 16:56 mark that gave UCO a 48-46 lead.

The Bronchos pushed their advantage to double digits at 78-67 on two Gibbs free throws with 4:40 remaining to start a game-ending stretch that saw UCO make 18 of its last 22 free throws -- including a 10-of-12 performance by Cormier – in easily keeping Washburn at bay.

Christian Huffman's 3-pointer 12 seconds into the contest gave the Bronchos a quick lead and it was a 13-4 advantage on Gibbs' trey after only three minutes of play.

The Ichabods were close at 25-23 before Smith had a dunk and 3-pointer in a 9-0 run that made it 34-23 and the lead was 38-28 at the 3:30 mark after a Smith trey before WU ended the half with a 15-5 run to pull even at the break.

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