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University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

The Official Site of Central Oklahoma University Athletics Central Oklahoma Athletics
Ashford Golden
72
Oklahoma Christian OC 3-3
82
Winner Central Oklahoma UCO 5-2
Oklahoma Christian OC
3-3
72
Final
82
Central Oklahoma UCO
5-2
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Oklahoma Christian OC 32 40 72
Central Oklahoma UCO 35 47 82

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Chris Brannick

Avery, Bronchos Fly Past Eagles

EDMOND - The University of Central Oklahoma beat Oklahoma Christian 82-72 Thursday night in non-conference action in Hamilton Field House. 

Adarius Avery scored a career-high 32 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead the way for the Bronchos, who are now 5-2 on the season.

"Adarius was really good tonight," UCO head men's basketball coach Tom Hankins said. "He was good in the first half, but got a couple fouls. But in the second he was great. He didn't pick up any fouls and was really good  both on offense and defense."

The senior from Memphis, Tenn. entered the final November game on the Broncho schedule averaging a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. His 32-point outburst Thursday was sparked by a 14-for-16 performance from the free-throw line.

Josh Holliday added 15 points, Marquis Johnson scored 14, and Ashford Golden scored 11 to celebrate the Oklahoma City native's birthday. Jaylan Williams added six points but was big in grabbing 10 rebounds.

Central Oklahoma was in charge from the get-go. The Bronchos trailed 2-0, but soon led 5-3 when Holliday knocked down a 3-pointer. Central would then go on a 8-0 run and led by as many as 12 in the first half.

When Avery got his second foul, Oklahoma Christian battled back into the game, and eventually chipped the lead to just three points by halftime, 35-32. 

The second half was dominated by Avery. After scoring seven first-half points on 3-for-4 shooting, the senior worked his way to the basket possession after possession. He shot just one free throw in the first half, making it, and then went 13-for-15 in the second half.

Central's largest lead of the game remained its 12-point first half lead, but the Bronchos controlled most of the second half. The game saw five total lead changes, one in the first half, and four in the second half. But it was a jumper by Avery with 13:27 to play in the second half that put the Bronchos up 44-43 and Central never looked back.

Avery hit a jumper with 9:10 to play that gave the Bronchos a nine-point lead. And he sank a free-throw with 5:28 to play that gave the Bronchos a 10-point lead. 

Golden, Holliday, and Avery controlled the game as the clock wound down and the Bronchos got the win.

UCO also had four points from Jordan Hemphill, whose night was cut short due to injury. The Bronchos finished the game shooting 36.4 percent overall from the floor, 22.7 percent from behind the arc, and 82.9 percent from the charity stripe. Central's 29 free-throws Thursday was a season-high.

Central Oklahoma is off for the next week. UCO will open Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association play Thursday, Dec. 6 in Joplin, Mo. against Missouri Southern. The Bronchos will then play Pittsburg State on Saturday to wrap up their only two conference games of the fall semester.
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