University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

Tigers Hand UCO Tough Loss

2/26/2014 10:23:00 PM

Josh Gibbs

Box Score

HAYS, Kan. (Feb. 26) – An impressive second-half rally went for naught down the stretch as Central Oklahoma dropped a heart-breaking 80-79 decision to Fort Hays State here Wednesday night.

The Bronchos overcame a 10-point halftime deficit to built an eight-point lead with 3:05 left to play, but the Tigers ended the game with 12-3 run and scored the game-winning layup with 1.6 seconds remaining to end UCO's six-game winning streak.

Craig Nicholson's coast-to-coast layup put FHSU on top in the final seconds and Aaron Anderson's desperation 3-point try was off the mark at the buzzer.

The tough loss cost the Bronchos a chance to earn a top-four finish in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association standings, with UCO now set to host a first-round MIAA Post-season Tournament game next Tuesday at Hamilton Field House against an opponent to be determined.

The Bronchos, now 17-8 on the season and 11-7 in the league, end the regular season at Nebraska-Kearney Friday night. FHSU improved to 22-5 and 13-5.

Josh Gibbs led UCO with 22 points and nine rebounds, while Anderson finished with 15 points. Nic Combs made three 3-pointers and added 13 points off the bench and Cal Andrews had 10.

The Bronchos trailed by as many as 12 in the first half and was down 37-27 at intermission before opening the second half with a 15-5 run to get even at 42-all with 16:46 to play.

It went back-and-forth the next nine minutes and was tied 60-all with 7:14 remaining before consecutive layups by Andrews, Seth Heckart and Combs put UCO on top 66-60 at the 6:10 mark.

The lead grew to 76-68 on Heckart's 3-pointer with 3:05 left to play and it was a 79-73 lead after two Philip Brown free throws with 1:36 to play, but those were the last points for the Bronchos.

Carson Konrade hit a trey at 1:25 to pull FHSU within 79-76 and Nicholson followed a UCO miss with two free throws at 0:44 to make it 79-78. The Bronchos couldn't convert on their next possession and Nicholson drove the length of the court for the winning layup in the final seconds.

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