Men's Basketball 2/9/2021 11:00:00 AM Chris Brannick

Central Oklahoma Hosts Fort Hays State

Bronchos Aim To Avenge Last Week's Loss

EDMOND – The University of Central Oklahoma men's basketball team is scheduled to host Fort Hays State Wednesday afternoon in an MIAA matchup at Hamilton Field House.

UCO will allow fans into the game following a month of playing in empty gyms. Only a limited number of tickets are available and must be purchased online prior to arrival.

Central Oklahoma (8-6) hosts Fort Hays State (7-8) in the second of two meetings between the two schools this season. The first meeting happened all the way back to last Saturday. Central is aiming to avenge an 84-82 loss to the Tigers in Hays, Kan. UCO had to play four games in four different states last week and went 3-1 on the daunting track – the only loss coming to Hays.

UCO is averaging 77.4 points per game this season. Central shoots 45.1 percent overall and 37.4 percent from behind the arc, averaging 8.3 made 3-pointers per game. UCO also shoots 73.5 percent from the free-throw line, averaging 15.1 makes per game there. Camryn Givens, Callen Haydon, Isaiah Wade, and Jaden Wells all lead Central Oklahoma's offensive output. The foursome is bunched together in the scoring category, all averaging between 9.0 and 14.3 points per game. Together they score 52 points per game.

Haydon is averaging a team-high 14.3 points per game this season to go with 4.6 assists per game. Haydon ranks fourth in the MIAA and 16th nationally in assists and has 65 total through 14 games this season. Haydon's shooting percentages are also not just among the best in the lineup, but among the best in the league and the entire country. Haydon is shooting 57.5 percent (65-for-113) overall this season, 77.3 percent (17-for-22) from behind the arc, and 85.5 percent (53-for-62) from the free-throw line.

Wade is averaging 13.9 points per game this season through 13 games played and is also Central's leading rebounder at 9.4 boards per game. Wade is shooting 54.5 percent from the floor overall this season. He is fourth in the MIAA, one spot behind Haydon, in shooting percentage. Wade has scored at least 20 in three out of the last four games and in the past two games, is averaging 26.5 points and 12.5 rebounds per game.

Givens ranks third in the lineup with 12.9 points per game. He is also the second-leading rebounder at 6.6 boards per game. Givens led Central in scoring for the first half of the season and maintains a top position. He's attempted a team-high 134 shots and shoots 46.3 percent from the floor. Givens is also second on the team with 21 made 3-pointers and is a combined 35-for-44 from the free-throw line this season.

Wells continues to raise his scoring output each game and is now up to 9.0 points per game this season. Wells is the team leader from outside, having made 31 threes this season. He's 31-for-78 overall, a 39.7 percent mark. Wells has hit at least one three in 11 of 14 games, and has drained multiple threes in 9 of 14. He has a season-high six made 3-pointers in a win over Lincoln last week. He also made five in a win over Emporia State two weeks ago. Wells averaged 3.0 points per game after five games of coming off the bench. He's up to 9.0 per game after becoming a starter in the new year.

Smith also has a rising points per game mark. He's averaging 6.4 points per game this season. He scored a season-high 14 points last Thursday at Nebraska Kearney.

Fort Hays State comes to Edmond averaging 74.7 points per game and gives up 75.7 per contest. Hays shoots 45.3 percent overall, 34.8 percent from behind the arc with an average of 7.3 made threes per game, and 80.3 percent from the free-throw line with an average of 16.1 makes per game. The Tigers of Hays, Kansas are led by Jared Vitztum (18.1 ppg & 9.9 rpg). Quinten Rock (12.6), Kaleb Hammeke (10.8) and Alvin Thompson (10.7) also contribute to the scoring load.

Central Oklahoma hosts Newman Saturday at 3:30 p.m. inside Hamilton Field House. The Bronchos will play at Rogers State next Monday before hosting the Hillcats next Thursday.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

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

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

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

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

Players Mentioned

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

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

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

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