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University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

The Official Site of Central Oklahoma University Athletics Central Oklahoma Athletics
Garen Wright
69
Southwest Baptist SBU 8-9, 3-8 MIAA
80
Winner Central Oklahoma UCO 9-9, 5-7 MIAA
Southwest Baptist SBU
8-9, 3-8 MIAA
69
Final
80
Central Oklahoma UCO
9-9, 5-7 MIAA
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Southwest Baptist SBU 34 35 69
Central Oklahoma UCO 37 43 80

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

UCO Calms Bearcats

EDMOND (Jan. 21) – Cornell Neal drilled a 3-pointer at the end of the first half to put Central Oklahoma in front to stay and the Bronchos went on to topple Southwest Baptist 80-69 Thursday night at Hamilton Field House.
 
Neal's buzzer-beater highlighted a 15-2 run sandwiching halftime that turned a four-point deficit into a nine-point lead and UCO was never threatened again en route to its fourth win in five games.
 
The Bronchos evened their record at 9-9 and moved to 5-7 in Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association play while dropping SBU to 8-9 and 3-8.
 
"We struggled most of the first half, but Cornell hit a big shot to give us the lead and that seemed to spark us," head coach Tom Hankins said.  "I thought we did a pretty good job on both ends of the floor in the second half."
 
UCO shot 60.0 percent (15-of-25) from the field in the second half while limiting the Bearcats to 27.3-percent (6-of-22) shooting in putting the game away.  The Bronchos also committed just 10 turnovers in the game.
 
Neal led four players in double figures with a game-high 20 points, making an assortment of driving layups and short jumpers in addition to the one trey while also dishing out six assists and pulling down five rebounds.
 
Garen Wright added 15 points and three assists, Seth Heckart had 12 points, two assists and two steals and Kendahl Amerson chipped in 12 points and two assists.
 
A back-and-forth first half saw 14 lead changes and six ties, with a closing 8-1 run giving UCO the lead for good.
 
Amerson hit a long 3-pointer to start the spurt and he tied the game at 34-all with two free throws at 0:48 before Neal just beat the buzzer with his corner trey off a Wright feed to put the Bronchos up 37-34.
 
Wright opened the second half with a pair of free throws and then Heckart answered one SBU foul shot with a 3-pointer from the wing before Neal followed a Bearcat miss with a layup.
 
That made it 44-35 and UCO was almost home free.
 
SBU was within seven (61-54) with 10:06 left to play, but Neal went in for a layup and then assisted Jordan London on a fast-break 3-pointer from the corner to push the lead to 66-54 to give the Bronchos breathing room.
 
UCO extended its cushion to 20 (78-58) on a Jacob Strassle trey with 3:06 left and coasted in from there.
 
The Bronchos continue a seven-game league homestand Saturday, taking on Central Missouri at 3:30 p.m.
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