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University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

The Official Site of Central Oklahoma University Athletics Central Oklahoma Athletics
Corbin Byford
Corbin Byford
76
Missouri Western MWSU 4-9, 0-4 MIAA
81
Winner Central Oklahoma UCO 8-4, 3-1 MIAA
Missouri Western MWSU
4-9, 0-4 MIAA
76
Final
81
Central Oklahoma UCO
8-4, 3-1 MIAA
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Missouri Western MWSU 40 36 76
Central Oklahoma UCO 35 46 81

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Chris Brannick

UCO outlasts Missouri Western to finish 2016 with a win

EDMOND - Central Oklahoma quickly erased a halftime deficit, led by double digits in the second half, and fended off a final rally from Missouri Western to finish off 2016 with an 81-76 win at Hamilton Field House Saturday evening.

The Bronchos (8-4, 3-1) got points from all nine players who stepped on the court Saturday, and six Central players recorded double figures. Josh Holliday led the charge with 15 points including hitting three 3-pointers. Corbin Byford, Jake Hammond, and Demari Edwards each had 11 points, while Corey Alpough and Cooper Clark had 10.

Xavier Howard, making a rare start in place of the injured Marquis Johnson, stepped up in a big way. The senior newcomer scored nine Saturday as he slashed his way through the Missouri Western defense for 25 key minutes.

"That kind of all-around production is when we are at our best," UCO head coach Tom Hankins said. "It's hard to guard any team when everyone is scoring. I'm really proud of the way the guys stepped up tonight. We needed that."
 
UCO entered Saturday's game on a two-game skid, and a back-and-forth first half seemed reminiscent of those two games for the Bronchos.
 
Howard scored on the game's first possession, but UCO was down 6-2 moments later. The Bronchos fought to earn a 20-14 lead midway through the first half, and led by as many as eight with seven minutes to play.
 
Clark hit a 3-pointer with 6:57 to go to make it 30-22. But Missouri Western went on a 16-0 run to make it 38-30 with 1:45 to go. The Bronchos cut the lead to 40-35 at halftime and regrouped.
 
"We just needed to settle down," Hankins said. "We weren't making heads up plays for too long late in the first half. We regrouped though at the break, and got things figured out. I'm proud of the guys for responding like that."
 
On the first possession of the second half, Hammond blocked a shot by Seth Bonifas. The 6-10 center then drew a foul from Bonifas and sank both of his free-throws to make it 40-37.
 
Holliday got a layup to make it a one-point game at 40-39. Missouri Western scored quickly with a layup of its own to extend its lead three. But the Bronchos were poised for their comeback.
 
Hammond made another layup to bring it back to a one-point game, blocked another shot on the other end, then got a layup to put the Bronchos ahead 43-42. UCO did not trail again.
 
Hammond had nine points in the first 3:20 of the second half before finishing with 10 on the night. He added eight rebounds and two blocks.

Byford's 11 was hard earned as well, and the senior forward led the Bronchos with 11 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the season and his third in as many games.
 
UCO hits the road next week for a pair of conference games. The Bronchos play at Lincoln on Thrusday, Jan. 5, and at Lindenwood on Saturday, Jan. 7.

 
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