Bronchos Nearly Buck Cowboys

Central Oklahoma Wraps Up Preseason With Stellar Performance In Stillwater

STILLWATER, Okla. – The University of Central Oklahoma men's basketball team wrapped up its preseason with an exhibition against Oklahoma State Friday night. The Bronchos battled for 40 minutes in a game that saw 15 lead changes and six more ties.

Oklahoma State 76, Central Oklahoma 68.

"We're some fighters," UCO head coach Bob Hoffman said after the game. "We believe in ourselves and we believe we are a good team and the guys showed it tonight. They battled hard. Fought for everything. I'm really proud of them for coming into this environment and playing well."

Oklahoma State announced over 8,300 fans in attendance and the crowd was lively following an NCAA announcement earlier this week that the school could not play in the postseason this year due to previous violations.

Central Oklahoma though wasn't bothered. UCO came out swinging and took a 5-0 lead in the game, setting a tone that the Bronchos weren't concerned with Division I or Division II. Friday night it was just a matter of playing ball.

Callen Haydon made a layup to put UCO on the board early. He then drew a foul shooting a 3-pointer and hit all three shots from the stripe. After one free-throw by OSU, Camryn Givens made a layup to give the Bronchos a 7-1 lead 90 seconds into the game. That would stand as the Bronchos' biggest lead of the game.

Central held that lead for the first six minutes of the game. OSU tied it up, 14-14, but the Bronchos quickly responded with Isaiah Wade finding a basket to put Central back in front.

UCO also led 20-19, 22-21, and 27-26 before OSU put together an 11-0 run. The Bronchos closed the gap late in the first half with a 9-0 run – the best run of the game for Central – and trailed by a single point, 39-38 at halftime.

Central Oklahoma led on several occasions in the second half too. Givens gave the Bronchos a two-point lead, 42-40. Haydon gave the Bronchos a 44-42 lead. Wade put Central up 46-45. And Jaden Wells hit a 3-pointer to give the Bronchos a 49-47 lead.

Seth Hurd gave the Bronchos a 53-52 lead with 13:55 to play in the second half, but that's when OSU made its biggest run of the game and sealed the win. The Cowboys would score the next 14 points, with UCO missing nine shots in a row. The one-point lead soon became a 13-point deficit. Central trailed 66-53 with 8:25 to play.

OSU held firm for most of the rest of the game. The Bronchos did prevent any OSU baskets for the final 4:03 of the game, and closed the game on a 9-3 run to reach the final, 76-68.

Wade led all scorers in the game. The senior had 18 points to go with 11 rebounds – also a game high. Wade was 7-for-9 from the free-throw line and added three assists and two blocks.

Givens also had a big game, posting a 15-point, 8-rebound outing. He was 7-for-13 from the floor and had two blocked shots.

Haydon gave Central three in double figures, scoring 11 points. Jaden Wells (nine), Preston Aymond (five), Carson Calavan and Danquez Dawsey (three each) and Davon Richardson and Seth Hurd (two each) rounded out the scoring for the Bronchos.

Central shot 40.0 percent from the floor in Gallagher-Iba Arena. The Bronchos hit four 3-pointers with Calavan, Aymond, Wade and Wells each hitting one. Central was 12-for-14 from the free-throw line. UCO also forced 17 turnovers in the game and outrebounded OSU 44-38.

Central Oklahoma officially opens the 2021-22 season next Friday with the Central Region Classic at Hamilton Field House. The Bronchos will take on Northwestern Oklahoma State in the season opener before facing Mary (N.D.) next Saturday to wrap up the two-day event.

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Players Mentioned

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

#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

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

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

#0 Danquez Dawsey: G; 6' 2"; Freshman

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

Players Mentioned

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

#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

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

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

#0 Danquez Dawsey
: 6' 2"; Freshman
: G

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