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University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

The Official Site of Central Oklahoma University Athletics Central Oklahoma Athletics
Marquis Johnson
Marquis Johnson
87
Lindenwood LWU 11-4, 3-3 MIAA
98
Winner Central Oklahoma UCO 12-3, 5-1 MIAA
Lindenwood LWU
11-4, 3-3 MIAA
87
Final
98
Central Oklahoma UCO
12-3, 5-1 MIAA
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 OT 1 F
Lindenwood LWU 38 43 6 87
Central Oklahoma UCO 39 42 17 98

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Bronchos Prevail In Overtime Thriller

EDMOND (Jan. 6) – Corbin Byford scored six of his career-high 23 points in overtime and Central Oklahoma dominated the extra session to outlast Lindenwood 98-87 in a back-and-forth Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association thriller Saturday afternoon at Hamilton Field House.
 
Defense was the difference in OT as the Bronchos limited LU to 9.1 percent shooting (1-of-11) after the Lions had shot 54.7 percent in regulation.  UCO scored the first five points of the five-minute extra period and hit 10-of-11 free throws to nail down its third straight win.
 
"Our depth really came through tonight," said third-year head coach Tom Hankins, who improved to 8-2 in overtime games with the Bronchos.  "I was really proud of our guys.  Before the overtime we talked to them about how the toughest team was going to win, the team that had the toughest mindset.
 
"They (Lindenwood) don't have nearly as much depth as we do and we were able to wear them out a little bit.  The biggest key was jumping out to a quick lead in overtime.  We were able to make it a two-possession game and made them start hurrying a little bit."
 
Byford and fellow frontcourt mate Jake Hammond owned the paint for UCO (12-3, 5-1), combining for 40 points and 22 rebounds.
 
Byford was 7-of-12 from the field and 9-of-11 from the line in his career-best 23-point outing while adding 12 rebounds.  Hammond had season highs for points (17) and rebounds (10), making 6-of-9 shots and 5-of-6 foul shots in addition to blocking four shots.
 
"Our front line really was the difference," Hankins said.  "They did a phenomenal job."
 
Marquis Johnson nailed four 3-pointers and was 6-of-6 from the charity stripe in scoring a season-high 18 points while also dishing out six assists.  Jordan London added three treys and 13 points off the bench, with Jordan Hemphill (nine points, five rebounds) and Kole Talbott (seven points) also coming up big in reserve roles.
 
The Bronchos shot a season-best 87.9 percent from the line, making 29-of-33 foul shots.
 
The hotly-contested game was tight throughout and featured 14 lead changes along with 14 ties before ending in an 81-all stalemate after regulation.
 
UCO never trailed in OT when Byford followed an LU miss with a conventional three-point play and Johnson hit two free throws after the Lions missed another shot to make it a five-point lead at 86-81.
 
Brad Newman made one of two free throws to get Lindenwood within three (90-87) with 2:49 left, but it was all Bronchos after that.  The Lions didn't score again, missing their final eight shots, and Central ended the game with eight answered points to win going away.
 
Byford made another layup, while Johnson, Hammond and Hemphill all drained clutch free throws to seal the verdict.
 
UCO was up by as many as 10 points (33-23) in the first half before the Lions rallied to make it 39-38 at intermission.  Neither team led by more than four in the final 20 minutes, with the last of those coming at the 3:20 mark when Hammond made two foul shots to put the Bronchos ahead 79-75.
 
Lindenwood scored four straight points to tie it again as UCO missed two shots and had a turnover, but Byford's inside bucket with 42 seconds left put the Bronchos up 81-79.  Newman hit a short jumper at 0:24 to make it 81-81 and London's long 3-point attempt at the buzzer looked good before bouncing off the front rim to force OT.
 
Central returns to league action next Wednesday, traveling to Emporia State for a 7:30 p.m. contest.
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