EDMOND – College basketball introduced the 3-point line for the men's game before the start of the 1986-87 season. Women's basketball began utilizing it the following season, 1987-88. As with nearly every team in the country, the extra point quickly became a valuable tool for winning games. Flash forward to today's game and it is almost a necessity to not only have shooters but to have shooters that night-in and night-out can produce from behind the arc.
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At Central Oklahoma, the new opportunity was quickly adopted and the Bronchos soon developed what was one of the most formidable stats of any college basketball program.
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Central Oklahoma men's basketball team made at least one 3-pointer in 941 consecutive games. The women's team had a run of 710 consecutive games.
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Two programs. 1,651 games.
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But with every record, every milestone, every streak, they all come to end at some point. And that's what else is unique about UCO's prowess from deep. The men's streak came to a halt on Nov. 16, 2019 and the women's streak on Dec. 12, 2020.
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Two programs. 1,651 games. Both streaks end a year apart.
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MEN GET ON BOARD QUICK WITH NEW "3-POINTER"
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The, as it was known at the time, Central State University men's basketball team was led by Buddy Armstrong in 1986 as the athletic department painted new lines on the floor in Hamilton Field House. The 3-point field goal would be introduced that season and the game of basketball would be dramatically changed in an instant. Armstrong's bunch was quick to adopt it and make it a part of the game plan.
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Central hit a 3-pointer in the first game ever played. In fact, Paul Collier was the first Broncho to ever make a shot from behind the arc in school history, hitting one in the season opener against Oklahoma Christian on Nov. 11, 1986.
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Central had a handful of games that it only made one shot from outside, but the Bronchos continued to utilize the new opportunity. Late in that first season, January 27, 1987 to be exact, Central had made a 3-pointer in each of the school's first 20 games that season. But in a matchup with Oklahoma Baptist, the Bronchos failed to hit from outside. Central only took one attempt though in the game, but did miss it, and had its first game without making at least one 3-pointer.
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It would be a long time before that would happen again.
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Central made a 3-pointer in the very next game against Oklahoma Panhandle State. Then again. Then again. Then again for the next 941 games.
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Central would make a 3-pointer in every game for 32 years leading up to the fourth game of the 2019-20 season. Now UCO, the Bronchos went 0-for-14 from behind the arc in a non-conference setback against William Jewell in Warrensburg, Missouri.
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The Bronchos have put together a new streak since, making at least one 3-pointer in each of the last 29 games.
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Central Oklahoma men's basketball has made at least one 3-pointer in 990 out of 992 games played since the line was introduced.
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NOW LADIES
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For the Central State University women's basketball team, there was a one-year wait to begin utilizing the 3-point line. But the Bronchos would do as their male counterparts and jump on board from day one.
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Dia Snyder made the first 3-pointer in school history for the women's squad, knocking down a shot against Quincy College on Nov. 27, 1987, and the Bronchos were off and running. Central wouldn't produce much of an immediate presence as a 3-point team but didn't shy away either.
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The Bronchos hit a 3-pointer in each of the first 10 games of the 1987-88 season, then the next eight after their first 0-for. Now over the first several years of the institution of the line, the Bronchos would find a handful of games they would not make a 3-pointer.
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A streak of 10, 8, 61, 83, 25, and 24 were posted by Central over the first nine seasons with a 3-point line.
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Then after going 0-for-15 against Central Arkansas in the 1995-96 season opener, Central Oklahoma started a new streak again. This is when the Bronchos really duplicated what the men's team was doing.
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Central Oklahoma proceeded to make at least one 3-pointer in each of the next 710 games. The Bronchos made at least one 3-pointer in every game for 25 years.
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Central, which has made a 3-pointer in 922 of 929 games since the line was introduced, started all over again on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020.
Women's Basketball – Games Without At Least One Made 3-pointer
Seven instances since 1987-88 season
922 of 929 games since line was introduced
Date vs., 3PM-3PA (Streak)
Dec. 12, 2020 vs. Nebraska Kearney, 0-for-16 (710)
Nov. 17, 1995 vs. Central Arkansas, 0-for-15 (24)
Nov. 25, 1994 vs. Missouri Southern, 0-for-13 (25)
Nov. 26, 1993 vs. Missouri Southern, 0-for-1 (84)
Nov. 16, 1990 vs. Southwest Baptist, 0-for-3 (61)
Feb. 11, 1988 vs. Texas Woman's, 0-for-1 (8)
Jan. 23, 1988 vs. Abilene Christian, 0-for-9Â (10)
Men's Basketball – Games Without Made 3-pointer
Two instances since 1986-87 season
990 of 992 games since line was introduced
Date vs., 3PM-3PA (Streak)
Nov. 16, 2019 vs. William Jewell, 0-for-14 (941)
Jan. 27, 1987 vs. Oklahoma Baptist, 0-for-1 (20)
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