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University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

The Official Site of Central Oklahoma University Athletics Central Oklahoma Athletics
Cam Givens
64
Winner Mary MARY 1-0
56
Central Okla. UCO 0-1
Winner
Mary MARY
1-0
64
Final
56
Central Okla. UCO
0-1
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 OT 1 F
Mary MARY 19 30 15 64
Central Okla. UCO 18 31 7 56

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Chris Brannick

Central Falls In Overtime In Season Opener

ALVA, Okla. – The University of Central Oklahoma men's basketball team overcame a slow start to force overtime in its season-opener against Mary (N.D.) Friday afternoon, but the Bronchos fell short after the extra period and lost, 64-56.
 
"They did a really good job getting into us," UCO head coach Bob Hoffman said after the game. "We're learning how to win, we're learning how to play. What I'm really proud of is the way they battled back when they could of given up."
 
Central never had a lead Friday. The Bronchos crawled out of the early hole and cut the deficit to just one point at halftime, and spent the entire second half inching closer. A timely defensive effort forced a more than three minute drought out of Mary and allowed Central to come back and force a tie. The teams were knotted up at 49 apiece after 40 minutes of play.
 
A 15-7 stretch of overtime did the Bronchos in in the end.
 
Camryn Givens led the Bronchos with 12 points and 13 rebounds Friday. He hit 4 of 9 shots, including one 3-pointer, and hit 3 of 4 free-throws. Alex Ogunseye added nine points and Cooper Clark had eight. Justin Nimmer and Dashawn McDowell each scored seven.
 
Central Oklahoma got off to a slow start, not scoring a basket for the first 8:20 of the game. The Bronchos went 7-for-24 in the first half and hit only one of five 3-point attempts.
 
But the Bronchos weren't out of it. The UCO defense played well and forced tough shots from Mary on the other end. Mary only shot 6-for-28 in the first half and made 3 of 16 attempts from behind the arc.
 
The result, and a late surge from the Bronchos, was a 19-18 halftime score.
 
The second half followed a similar pattern though both teams improved slightly as the game went on. UCO shot 47.6 percent in the second half and hit three shots from outside. The Bronchos added eight free-throws in the second half as well to aid in the effort.
 
Mary went up 49-43 with 4:13 to play after knocking down a 3-pointer. Then the Bronchos made another half-ending surge. UCO scored the final six points of regulation to tie the game. Givens drove to the basket and put in a layup with 30 seconds to play, tying the game. Mary missed a off-balance shot at the buzzer.
 
Central's overtime unfortunately followed a similar pattern. The Bronchos were just 1-for-7 from the floor in the extra five minutes.
 
UCO shot just 34.6 percent overall and 27.8 percent from behind the arc. Central hit 5 fo 18 3-pointers on the day. That extended Central Oklahoma's long and historic streak of consecutive games with a made 3-pointer. The Bronchos have made a shot in 939 straight games dating back 32 seasons.
 
Central will be back in action Saturday, taking on the host Northwestern Oklahoma State in Alva to wrap up the two-day, three-conference festival.
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