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University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

The Official Site of Central Oklahoma University Athletics Central Oklahoma Athletics
Jordan London
69
Central Okla. UCO 12-4, 5-2 MIAA
71
Winner Emporia State ESU 8-7, 3-3 MIAA
Central Okla. UCO
12-4, 5-2 MIAA
69
Final
71
Emporia State ESU
8-7, 3-3 MIAA
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Central Okla. UCO 23 46 69
Emporia State ESU 28 43 71

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Chris Brannick

Comeback Falls Short, Bronchos Drop Road Affair

EMPORIA, Kan. – The University of Central Oklahoma men's basketball team made a furious comeback in the final minutes, but came up short, and lost 71-69 to Emporia State in a Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association matchup Wednesday night.

After trailing by as many as 16 points with 7:30 to play in the second half, Central stormed back to cut the lead to single digits a few minutes later on Jordan London layup. A London 3-pointer with 2:34 to play made it a six-point game. And the Bronchos weren't done yet. 

With 1:20 to play, Anthony Roberson put in a layup to make it a 4-point game. Roberson added another layup with 14 seconds left to make it a two-point game. Emporia State launched the ensuing inbounds pass down the court ahead to Brandon Hall. Roberson chased Hall down and blocked his shot at the rim, giving UCO the opportunity to tie the game.

Roberson drew a foul, but only hit one of two free-throws to make it 70-69. Emporia hit one of two and on the final rebound, with 1.5 seconds to go, the Bronchos couldn't get a desperation heave off.

"We put ourselves in a bad position with the way we played, really, for most of the game," UCO head coach Tom Hankins said. "We did a heck of a job getting back in the game, and really played to our potential down the stretch, but you can't get yourself in that position."

London's final 3-pointer of the game - the junior guard sank three of them - tied his career-high with 22 points. He was the high-scorer for the Bronchos. He finished 7 of 12 from the field, 3 of 6 from deep, and added 5 of 6 free throws. 

Jake Hammond added 14 points, nine rebounds and four blocks. Roberson had 13 points, nine rebounds and four blocks of his own. Marquis Johnson, 12 points, was the only other double-digit scorer for the Bronchos. 

UCO shot just 34 percent on the night, and 27 percent from behind the arc. But it's suffocating defense, that forced 16 turnovers, kept it in the game followoing a tough first half.

UCO came out of the gates a bit sluggish, going more than five minutes without its first basket. That ended when Jake Hammond made a layup with 14:45 to play. UCO ended the first half just 6 of 26 from the floor, and 2 of 10 from 3-point range.

The Bronchos continued to fight though. Emporia's largest lead of the first half was 12 points, at the 6:37 mark, but UCO clawed back into the game. Marquis Johnson stole an inbounds pass and earned a trip to the free-throw line. The sophomore hit both shots and the Emporia lead was down to three, 26-23.
 
The Hornets got one more bucket in the first half to take a five-point lead into the locker room at halftime.
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