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University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

The Official Site of Central Oklahoma University Athletics Central Oklahoma Athletics
Corbin Byford
51
Southeastern Okla. SOSU 0-1
78
Winner Central Oklahoma UCO 1-0
Southeastern Okla. SOSU
0-1
51
Final
78
Central Oklahoma UCO
1-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Southeastern Okla. SOSU 29 22 51
Central Oklahoma UCO 45 33 78

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

UCO Rolls In Season Opener

ALVA, Okla. (Nov. 10) – Central Oklahoma made its first six shots of the game to grab early control and opened the 2017-18 season with a 78-51 romp over intrastate rival Southeastern Oklahoma here Friday on the first day of the MIAA/GAC Challenge.
 
Three-pointers by Marqueese Grayson and Josh Holliday highlighted the early onslaught that saw the Bronchos grab a commanding 14-2 lead not even four minutes into the game.  It was a 45-29 cushion at halftime and UCO coasted in from there.
 
It was the 12th straight season-opening win for the Bronchos, who return to action Saturday at 7:30 p.m. against host Northwestern Oklahoma.
 
"We came out ready to play and got off to a great start," head coach Tom Hankins said.  "We took care of the ball, played good defense and made shots.  I was really happy with the way we played, especially for it being the first game of the year."
 
The Bronchos shot 50.8 percent for the game, including 60.0 percent (9-of-15) from 3-point range.  Central committed just 13 turnovers, outrebounded the Savage Storm 37-32 and had three players finish in double figures.
 
Grayson led the way with 17 points, hitting 5-of-10 shots with three treys and all four free throw tries.  Marquis Johnson had a pair of 3-pointers in a 13-point, five-assist performance, while Corbin Byford had 12 points and a game-high nine rebounds.
 
Byford scored 26 seconds into the contest to give UCO a lead it never relinquished and Jake Hammond followed 30 seconds later with a shot from close range after an SOSU turnover.  Grayson answered the Savage Storm's first bucket with a 3-pointer to start a 10-0 run that Holliday capped at the 16:20 mark to make it 14-2.
 
The first-half lead peaked at 19 (35-16) on another Grayson trey and Jordan London's late 3-pointer gave the Bronchos their 45-29 halftime advantage.
 
UCO opened the second half with seven straight points to push the lead to 23 at 52-29 and the largest margin was 29 at 71-42 following two Grayson free throws with 7:24 left.
 
 
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