UCO Starts Road Trip Thursday

1/6/2015 3:13:00 PM

Trai Jordan

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Central Oklahoma will try to get back on the winning track Thursday when the Bronchos travel to Joplin, Mo. to start a four-game Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association road swing.

UCO, 11-3 on the season and 4-1 in the league, takes on Missouri Southern (8-5, 2-2) at 7:30 p.m. Thursday before moving on to Bolivar, Mo. to face Southwest Baptist (7-7, 2-3) at 3:30 p.m. Saturday.

The Bronchos had a seven-game winning streak snapped in their last outing and currently share the conference lead with Nebraska-Kearney. Northwest Missouri (3-1) and Pittsburg State (2-1) also have only one MIAA loss.

ABOUT THE BRONCHOS: UCO returned to action after an 11-day break last Saturday and dropped a 91-70 home decision to NWMSU. The Bearcats shot a sizzling 70.8 percent from 3-point range, hitting 17-of-24 attempts beyond the arc.

The Bronchos continue to lead the league in scoring with an 86.3 average while also topping the MIAA in steals (8.4/game) and blocked shots (4.4/game). UCO has scored 90-plus points in seven games and have gone over the century mark three times (103, 104, 113).

Seven players are averaging at least 7.1 points a game, with three in double figures.

Senior Mahlon Jones paces the Bronchos with a 14.7 average while adding 3.0 assists and he's shooting 53.7 percent from the field.

Redshirt freshman Garen Wright is averaging 13.6 points and 4.5 rebounds a contest, while junior Cal Andrews adds 10.1 points.

Junior Seth Heckart contributes 9.9 points a game while also leading the team in assists (3.1/game), steals (2.4/game), 3-pointers (34) and free throw percentage (85.0).

ABOUT THE LIONS: MSSU fell to Fort Hays State 80-70 last Saturday in its return to conference action.

The Lions, who beat UCO in the MIAA Post-season Tournament finals last year in qualifying for the NCAA Division II national tournament, are averaging 79.5 points a game.

Taevaunn Prince (15.9 ppg) and Lane Barlow (13.3) lead MSSU.

The series is tied and the Lions have won the last two meetings, including an 84-72 victory in last year's MIAA finals.

ABOUT THE BEARCATS: SBU, which hosts Northeastern State Thursday before taking on the Bronchos, knocked off FHSU 72-70 on the road Monday night.

The Bearcats are averaging just 66.4 points a contest. Menas Stephens averages 11.7 points and an MIAA-best 10.8 rebounds to lead the way, while Daymond Cowlah adds 11.0 points.

UCO owns a 7-3 lead in the series and has won the last five meetings.

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