Men's Basketball 11/30/2021 12:00:00 PM Chris Brannick

Bronchos Begin MIAA Schedule

JOPLIN, Mo. – The University of Central Oklahoma men's basketball team takes its high-octane pace of play into its first MIAA game of the 2021-22 season Thursday when the Bronchos visit Missouri Southern. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

Central Oklahoma is 4-1 after one month of the play and the Bronchos are the second-highest scoring team in the MIAA. UCO averages 84.4 points per game after five games played – Emporia State averages 85.2.

The Bronchos are shooting 48.1 percent overall from the floor with a 38.1 percent mark from behind the 3-point line. UCO is 76.2 percent from the free-throw line. The Bronchos average nine made 3-pointers per game and 15.4 made free-throws per game.

Defensively, Central allows 71.6 points per game. UCO holds opponents to 43 percent shooting overall, 34.5 percent from outside, and just 61.6 percent from the stripe.

Isaiah Wade leads Central Oklahoma in a handful of categories through five games played. The senior forward averages 18.4 points per game and 10.0 rebounds per game. Both rank among the best in the MIAA. The rebounding mark is the 23rd best mark for any Division II men's basketball player in the country.

Wade has a team high in field goals made (37), field goals attempted (63), field goal percentage (.587), offensive (17), defensive (33) and total rebounds (50), points (92). He also trots out a 5-for-5 line from behind the arc in five games played.

Camryn Givens, a fourth-year junior from Texas, is second in both points and rebounds. He averages 13.0 points per game and 5.8 rebounds per game. Givens shoots 47.9 percent from the floor and has the team high in free-throws made (17) and free-throws attempted (22).

Jaden Wells is averaging 12.6 points per game and is the team leader shooting from anywhere on the floor. The second-year freshman from Texas has 14 made 3-pointers in five games. He produced nine of those in just two games, hitting five 3-pointers against Mary (N.D.) and four 3-pointers against Jarvis Christian. Wells has hit multiple threes in four of five games this season.

Callen Haydon gives Central Oklahoma four players in double figures scoring the basketball. He also gives Central everything it needs to make the entire operation go.

Haydon averages 11.2 points per game and 5.8 assists per game. He's played more minutes (160) than any other Broncho, averaging 32.2 per night. He shoots 40.9 percent from the floor, has six made 3-pointers in five games, and is a stout 14-for-16 from the free-throw line. Haydon also averages one steal per game.

Preston Aymond, a second-year freshman from Texas, is playing a big role for the Bronchos off the bench. Aymond is averaging 9.0 points per game and 5.0 rebounds per game. He is only marginally behind Wade in field goal percentage at 58.1 and adds three makes from outside and six more from the free-throw line. He also averages a couple of assists per game and leads the Bronchos with four blocked shots.

Jalyn Turner and Davon Richardson have split time in the fifth starting spot but both have played the same amount of time at a guard position for the Bronchos. Turner averages 5.0 points per game and 2.2 rebounds per game. Richardson averages 4.6 points and 2.4 rebounds per game.

Carson Calavan, who averages 3.6 points per game, is a steady contributor alongside Haydon in running the offense. He averages 4.2 assists in just over 20 minutes per game.

Missouri Southern is 3-3 this season, with wins over Southern Nazarene (in double overtime) and Southwest Baptist (in one overtime), as well as NAIA John Brown (Arkansas).

The Lions of Joplin average 79 points per game after one month of play. MSSU gives up 83.5 points per game. R.J. Smith leads the team in scoring and rebounding. He is averaging 20.5 points per game and 9.5 rebounds per game. Winston Dessesow averages 17 points per game and 4.5 rebounds. Stan Scott (13.8) and Christian Bundy (10.7) also both average double figures. Scott adds 8.5 rebounds per game as well while Bundy pulls down 5.0 boards per night.

Central Oklahoma and Missouri Southern could re-kindle a tense rivalry from last season. The Lions beat the Bronchos by one point in the season opener in Edmond in the first of three exciting matchups. UCO knocked off MSSU in the final game of the regular season, earning a 105-101 overtime victory in Joplin. Central then returned to Joplin four days later for the MIAA Championship Quarterfinals and the Bronchos snagged a 109-101 victory.

Missouri Southern owns a 12-6 advantage in the all-time series. The Lions won 11 in a row before the Bronchos won in the 2020-21 season finale. The previous win was also in the season finale of 2012-13. UCO won three of the first four in the series and four of the first six before Southern's run.

Central Oklahoma will visit Pittsburg State on Saturday, with a 3:30 p.m. tipoff scheduled for the MIAA affair. The Bronchos return to Hamilton Field House next weekend and are scheduled to host Washburn Dec. 9 and Emporia State Dec. 11.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

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

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

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

#24 Jaden Wells: G; 6' 1"; Freshman

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

#23 Preston Aymond: F; 6' 7"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

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

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

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

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

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

#24 Jaden Wells
: 6' 1"; Freshman
: G

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

#23 Preston Aymond
: 6' 7"; Freshman
: F