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University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

The Official Site of Central Oklahoma University Athletics Central Oklahoma Athletics
Cornell Neal
86
Central Missouri UCM 12-6, 6-6 MIAA
90
Winner Central Oklahoma UCO 10-9, 6-7 MIAA
Central Missouri UCM
12-6, 6-6 MIAA
86
Final
90
Central Oklahoma UCO
10-9, 6-7 MIAA
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 OT 1 OT 2 F
Central Missouri UCM 26 35 12 13 86
Central Oklahoma UCO 32 29 12 17 90

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Bronchos Prevail In Two OT Thriller

EDMOND (Jan. 23) – Cornell Neal hit the go-ahead 3-pointer and scored seven of his season-high 26 points in the second overtime to propel Central Oklahoma to a thrilling 90-86 victory over Central Missouri Saturday afternoon at Hamilton Field House.
 
It was the fifth win in six games for the Bronchos, who got a last-second 3-pointer from Garen Wright in forcing the first extra session and a buzzer-beating layup from Neal to arrange the second.
 
UCO improved to 4-0 in overtime games this season in moving to 10-9 on the season and 6-7 in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.  The Mules fell to 12-6 and 6-6.
 
"I thought we showed tremendous character and fight today," head coach Tom Hankins said.  "We really battled to extend the game, both at the end of regulation and in the first overtime.  Our guys are embracing their roles and it's producing positive results."
 
UCM scored first in the second OT, but Wright tied it with a driving layup and Neal followed a Mule miss with the 3-pointer that put the Bronchos on top for good, 78-75.
 
Jordan London splashed through another trey after UCM hit one of two foul shots and then Jarred Bairstow made two free throws to put UCO up 83-76 with 44 seconds left.
 
UCM hit two long-range 3-pointers the rest of the way to stay within striking range, but the Bronchos made 7-of-10 free throws to keep the Mules at bay.
 
Neal was 8-of-17 form the field with two treys and 8-of-13 from the line in his 26-point outing while adding seven steals and four rebounds.
 
UCO also got 16 points and five rebounds apiece from Bairstow and Wright, with Trai Jordan contributing seven points and a career-high 11 rebounds.
 
The Bronchos were up by as many as 11 in the first half before settling for a 32-26 lead at intermission, but UCM pulled even at 41-all midway through the second half and it was back-and-forth the rest of the way.
 
UCO trailed 61-58 after the Mules made two free throws with 16 seconds remaining, but Seth Heckart rebounded his own missed 3-pointer and passed to Wright for the game-tying trey at 0:03.
 
The Bronchos were down 72-69 late in the first OT before Neal drove in for a layup at 0:07 to get UCO within one.  UCM hit one of two free throws at 0:06 to make it 73-72 and Wright rebounded the second miss before Neal raced downcourt with a layup in traffic at the buzzer to force the second OT.
 
The Bronchos stay home Thursday to host Lincoln at 7:30 p.m.
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