Men's Basketball 11/3/2021 8:00:00 AM Chris Brannick

Central Visits Oklahoma State Friday

STILLWATER, Okla. – The University of Central Oklahoma men's basketball team is scheduled to play an exhibition match at Oklahoma State Friday night. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. from Gallagher-Iba Arena.

Central Oklahoma has played two scrimmages and will wrap up its preseason with Friday's exhibition. The Bronchos open the 2021-22 season Friday, Nov. 12 with a Central Region Classic matchup against Northwestern Oklahoma State at Hamilton Field House in Edmond.

"We're excited to have the opportunity to play at Oklahoma State," UCO head men's basketball coach Bob Hoffman said. "Coach Boynton does a great job with that program and we're thankful for the opportunity to get to play an exhibition with them. I think it's great for our program and our university and we're looking forward to it."

Friday night's exhibition in Stillwater will mark the first meeting between Central and OSU since Nov. 7, 2009, when the teams also played an exhibition in the preseason. Oklahoma State won that contest 89-80.

UCO goes to Stillwater ready for its final tuneup before live action begins next weekend. The Bronchos return 11 lettermen from last year's squad that made it to the MIAA Championship semifinals before losing to eventual national champion, Northwest Missouri. Of the 11 returning lettermen, all five starters are back for the Bronchos and three more returners started at least once last season.

Central Oklahoma went 14-11 in 2020-21. The Bronchos played a shortened season, had a dozen games postponed, and even played home games in January in empty arenas, all due to the pandemic.

But the Bronchos did average 81.4 points per game last season and that number ballooned to 90 points per contest during the month of February. Central finished fifth in the MIAA regular season before winning on the road in the playoffs to reach the conference tournament semifinals.

Isaiah Wade returns this season after earning Second Team All-MIAA a year ago. He averaged 14.8 points per game and 9.0 rebounds per game. Wade was 12th in the MIAA in scoring and third in rebounding, just 10 boards short of the league's rebounding title.

Callen Haydon led UCO in scoring at 15.6 points per game and he earned Third Team All-MIAA for his efforts. Haydon ranked 11th in the MIAA in scoring and was also third in the league in assists. He led Central with 5.1 assists per game.

Haydon's shooting numbers might have been his most impressive stat in 2020-21. The El Reno, Oklahoma native registered 53.8 percent from the floor, 57.9 percent from 3-point range, and 87.2 percent from the free-throw line.

Camryn Givens was right among Central's leaders all season last year too. The forward from McKinney, Texas averaged 13.4 points per game and 7.2 rebounds per game. He provided a balanced attack opposite of Wade in the UCO frontcourt. Givens also knocked down 36 threes a year ago, keeping defenses honest with his range.

Jaden Wells, from Hurst, Texas, starred as a freshman for the Bronchos last season. The shooting guard did as his position implies, making 59 threes in 24 games. He averaged 11.1 points per game to go with 3.9 rebounds per game. Wells hit at least one 3-pointer in 20 of 24 games and made multiple threes in 17 of 24 outings. He hit a season-high six 3-pointers twice last season.

Jalyn Turner, who averaged 3.4 points and 1.3 rebounds per game, started in 12 games for the Bronchos last season. Davon Richardson made seven starts and averaged 6.4 points and 2.3 rebounds per game to go with one steal per game. Carson Calavan, 3.4 points and 1.2 boards, made four starts.

Conner Calavan, Seth Hurd, Austin Fenton and Landon Streich are also returning for Central. UCO added junior college transfer Preston Aymond for this year's roster. Newcomers Danquez Dawsey, Cooper Gudell, Burke Bailey and Bryce Brister round out the roster of youngsters looking for their role with the Bronchos.

Oklahoma State went 21-9 last season and made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. OSU went 11-5 in Big 12 play and finished fifth in the league standings. The Cowboys beat eventual national champion Baylor in the Big 12 Tournament.

Oklahoma State returns 10 lettermen from that squad. The Cowboys did lose No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft, Cade Cunningham, but also gained Tulsa product and Kansas transfer Bryce Thompson.

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Players Mentioned

#13 Carson Calavan: G; 5' 11"; Sophomore

#3 Conner Calavan: G; 6' 5"; Freshman

#32 Austin Fenton: F; 6' 8"; Freshman

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

#14 Callen Haydon: G; 5' 11"; Junior

#5 Seth Hurd: F; 6' 6"; Sophomore

#1 Davon Richardson: G; 6' 3"; Freshman

#11 Landon Streich: G; 6' 1"; Sophomore

#10 Jalyn Turner: F; 6' 6"; Sophomore

#2 Isaiah Wade: F; 6' 7"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#13 Carson Calavan
: 5' 11"; Sophomore
: G

#3 Conner Calavan
: 6' 5"; Freshman
: G

#32 Austin Fenton
: 6' 8"; Freshman
: F

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

#14 Callen Haydon
: 5' 11"; Junior
: G

#5 Seth Hurd
: 6' 6"; Sophomore
: F

#1 Davon Richardson
: 6' 3"; Freshman
: G

#11 Landon Streich
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: G

#10 Jalyn Turner
: 6' 6"; Sophomore
: F

#2 Isaiah Wade
: 6' 7"; Senior
: F