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University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

The Official Site of Central Oklahoma University Athletics Central Oklahoma Athletics
Corbin Byford
Corbin Byford
78
Winner Central Oklahoma UCO 12-6, 7-3 MIAA
71
Pittsburg State PSU 3-16, 1-10 MIAA
Winner
Central Oklahoma UCO
12-6, 7-3 MIAA
78
Final
71
Pittsburg State PSU
3-16, 1-10 MIAA
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 OT 1 F
Central Oklahoma UCO 28 36 14 78
Pittsburg State PSU 36 28 7 71

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Chris Brannick

UCO outlasts Pittsburg State for overtime road win

PITTSBURG, Kan. – Central Oklahoma overcame a horrid first-half shooting performance to force overtime, and an eventual come-from-behind 78-71 victory at Pittsburg State Thursday night in MIAA action.

The Bronchos (12-6, 7-3) shot just 8-of-27 in the first half and trailed 36-28. But UCO stormed back in the second half, and even led by three in the final minute before Pittsburg State sent the game into overtime. The Bronchos outscored Pittsburg 14-7 in the extra period to get the win.

"That took some resilience," UCO head coach Tom Hankins said. "I'm proud of the guys for battling back and sticking with it."

Xavier Howard got a steal and fastbreak layup with 3:06 to go in regulation to put UCO up 64-59. Unfortunately, the Broncho offense was as cold in the final three minutes as it was in the beginning of the game.

Pittsburg State battled back, getting a layup of its own with 1:34 to play. Then, with just eight seconds remaining, the Gorillas nailed a 3-pointer to tie it up.

Hankins called a timeout to set up his play.

Marquis Johnson dribbled the ball the length of the court, dished to Jordan London under the basket, who then dished it to Jake Hammond as the clock expired. The Bronchos didn't get a final shot off.

UCO though in overtime went a perfect 4-of-4 from the field including a key three from London.

Corbin Byford led the Bronchos with 19 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals. Hammond added 15 points, eight rebounds and two blocked shots.

Byford and Hammond were solid in the first half when the Bronchos couldn't get many other shots to fall. The two combined to make half of UCO's eight first-half field goals. The Bronchos' starting back court combined to go 2-of-14.

UCO flipped the script in the second half though.

The Bronchos' leading scorer this season, Josh Holliday, was 0-for-3 shooting in the first half. But the sophomore guard made 4-of-6 in the second half, including a trio of key 3-pointers.

London hit an early 3-pointer, but went to the locker room making just one of the five shots he took, which were all threes. London finished with 10 points.

Howard scored nine off the bench, tying a season-high. Corey Alpough added eight points and six rebounds, and Cooper Clark scored a big-second half 3-pointer that sparked a late UCO rally.

The Bronchos play in Joplin, Mo. Saturday at 3 p.m. against Missouri Southern State to wrap up a three-game road trip.
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