Men's Basketball 2/26/2020 11:50:00 AM Chris Brannick

Central Oklahoma Welcomes Fort Hays State

EDMOND – The University of Central Oklahoma men's basketball team hosts Fort Hays State Thursday night, with the Bronchos aiming to lock up a postseason berth. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at Hamilton Field House.

Central Oklahoma is 9-17 overall this season and 6-11 in the MIAA. The Bronchos need at least one win this weekend to clinch a berth in the MIAA Tournament. UCO is tied for ninth place with Fort Hays State, who is 13-13 overall and 6-11 in league play. The top-10 teams in the final standings make the tournament, which begins March 4 in Kansas City.

Central Oklahoma enters the weekend on a two-game win streak. The Bronchos look to be over their winter slump, which saw eight losses in a row. UCO though responded with wins against Newman and Emporia State over the past two weeks.

UCO is averaging 69.6 points per game this season. The Bronchos shoot an even 45 percent from the floor overall, 32.8 percent from behind the arc, averaging 5.9 made 3-pointers per game, and 73.6 percent from the free-throw line, averaging 16 made shots per game from the charity stripe. Central is second in the MIAA in both free-throws made (416) and attempted (565), while ranking fifth in percentage.

UCO is led by a pair of double-digit scorers. Dashawn McDowell averages a team-high 11 points per game, while Camryn Givens puts up 10.9 points per game. The duo is also UCO's leading rebounders. Givens averages a team-high 5.8 boards per game while McDowell pulls down 4.7 rebounds per game.

Justin Nimmer, who averages 8.2 points per game, third-best on the team, also averages 4.7 rebounds per game. Along with Dashon Bell's 9.2 points per game, the quartet of leaders for the Bronchos represent a well-rounded effort that forces defenses to account for every player at all times.

McDowell (101), Givens (84), Bell (82), and Nimmer (79) rank 1-4 in made field goals for the Bronchos.

Fort Hays State comes to Edmond averaging 73 points per game. The Tigers shoot 46.9 percent from the field overall, 37.8 percent from behind the arc, and 76.6 percent from the free-throw line. FHSU makes 7.7 threes per game and 14.6 from the free-throw line.

Central Oklahoma will wrap up the 2019-20 season Saturday with a 3:30 p.m. tip against Nebraska Kearney. If the Bronchos clinch a postseason berth this weekend, UCO will play Wednesday, March 4 at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City.

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Players Mentioned

#1 Dashon Bell: G; 6' 1"; Senior

#0 Justin Nimmer: G; 6' 6"; Redshirt Freshman

#3 Dashawn McDowell: F; 6' 5"; Junior

#33 Camryn Givens: F; 6' 6"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#1 Dashon Bell
: 6' 1"; Senior
: G

#0 Justin Nimmer
: 6' 6"; Redshirt Freshman
: G

#3 Dashawn McDowell
: 6' 5"; Junior
: F

#33 Camryn Givens
: 6' 6"; Sophomore
: F