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Josh Holliday
UCO Photo Services
Josh Holliday
70
Central Oklahoma UCOMEN 12-13, 8-11 MIAA
80
Winner Emporia State ESU 12-13, 9-10 MIAA
Central Oklahoma UCOMEN
12-13, 8-11 MIAA
70
Final
80
Emporia State ESU
12-13, 9-10 MIAA
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Central Oklahoma UCOMEN 30 40 70
Emporia State ESU 46 34 80

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

UCO Rally Falls Short

EMPORIA, Kan. (Feb. 17) – Emporia State used a sizzling first-half shooting stretch to open up a big lead and short-handed Central Oklahoma never quite recovered in dropping an 80-70 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association decision here Wednesday night at W.L. White Auditorium.
 
The Bronchos trailed just 22-20 after Corey Alpough's blocked shot led to a fast-break layup by Cornell Neal, but the Hornets responded with a back-breaking 22-3 run during a rapid-fire four-minute spurt.
 
ESU made eight straight shots – including four 3-pointers – in stretching its lead to 21 (44-23) with 1:55 left in the half and a furious late-game rally that got UCO within nine wasn't enough.
 
"We got down early and were fighting an uphill battle all night," head coach Tom Hankins said.  "We fought back to get in it a few times and then they would go on another run."
 
It was the third straight loss for the Bronchos, who fell to 12-13 on the season and 8-11 in league play.
 
Neal led UCO with 19 points, while Seth Heckart added 13 points and three assists.  Jordan London and Alpough chipped in nine points each.
 
The Hornets held a big 41-26 rebounding advantage behind a 27-point, 14-rebound effort from 6-foot-11 Kevin Allen.
 
The Bronchos were without two of their top-three scorers after losing Kendahl Amerson to suspension last week and Garen Wright to injury prior to the game.
 
UCO got off to an awful start, committing four turnovers and missing its first two shots in falling behind 6-0 early.
 
It was a 21-12 deficit at the 7:44 mark before Heckart and Neal hit back-to-back 3-pointers followed by Neal's layup after the Alpough block in an 8-1 run that got the Bronchos within 22-20.
 
The Hornets responded with their hot stretch to take the big lead and were up 46-30 at intermission.
 
UCO crawled within 13 twice early in the second half, at 50-37 following an Alpough layup and again at 55-42 after a Jordan 3-pointer from the corner.
 
ESU answered back with seven straight points in going up 62-42 and the deficit was back to 21 at 65-44 midway through the second half when again the Bronchos battled back.
 
Neal's fast-break layup off a turnover pulled UCO within 14 (72-58) with 5:56 remaining and Heckart drilled a trey from the top of the key at 3:38 to make it an 11-point game at 74-63.
 
ESU scored a follow shot on the other end, but Heckart made a 15-footer and Neal drove in for another layup after a turnover to cut the deficit to nine (76-67) at 2:01.
 
But there would be no miracle comeback as the Hornets hit a corner 3-pointer 20 seconds later to clinch the win.
 
The Bronchos return to action Saturday, going to Topeka, Kan. to face Washburn at 7 p.m.
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