Men's Basketball 1/2/2022 2:48:00 PM Chris Brannick

Central Welcomes Newman To Start New Year

EDMOND – The University of Central Oklahoma men's basketball team picks back up in conference play Monday against Newman. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

Central Oklahoma is 10-2 overall this season and the Bronchos are 5-1 in MIAA play. The Bronchos also start the new year as the league's highest scoring team at 84.3 points per game.

"It was good to have one game last week coming out of the break to get our legs back under us and get back in the swing of things," UCO head men's basketball coach Bob Hoffman said. "Now it's just MIAA games from here on out. It's two months. Now every night matters and we have to show up and play like it starting Monday night."

Central Oklahoma has the league's highest scoring offense at 84.3 points per game through 12 games played. The Bronchos shoot 49.5 percent from the field on average, and 38.6 percent from behind the 3-point line. UCO averages an even 9.0 made 3-pointers per game. Central also shoots 77.9 percent from the free-throw line and averages 15.8 makes from there per contest.

UCO is led by Isaiah Wade. The senior forward averages 18.6 points per game and 8.8 rebounds per game. He has become the leading scorer on the team – and fourth leading scorer in the MIAA – by shooting a blistering 60.3 percent from the floor.

Wade is a combined 88-for-146 in 12 games. He is also 9-for-16 (56.3 percent) from behind the 3-point line. Wade is 38-for-54 (70.4) from the free-throw line.

Camryn Givens is Central's second leading scorer at 16.0 points per game and is also the second leading rebounder at 6.2 boards per contest. Givens eclipsed 800 career points at UCO last week. The junior forward has 805 points since joining the Bronze & Blue two years ago.

Callen Haydon missed his first game in two seasons with the Bronchos last week. But the junior point guard is averaging 13.7 points per game and 5.9 assists per game this season. He's among the national leaders (14th in the country) in assists. Haydon also averages 3.3 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game.

Jaden Wells is averaging 13.3 points per game. He is the team's leader shooting outside. Wells is 38-for-85 through 12 games shooting behind the 3-point line. His 44.7 percent rate is among the best in the country.

Wells has hit a 3-pointer in every game this season, hit multiple threes in 11 of 12 games this season, and has three times made at least five 3-pointers with a season high seven coming in a win over Emporia State last month.

Jalyn Turner adds 3.6 points and 2.1 rebounds per game as Central's fifth starter.

The Bronchos get bench work from Preston Aymond, Davon Richardson, and Carson and Conner Calavan.

Aymond averages 7.7 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. Richardson is at 4.8 points and 2.9 rebounds per game. Carson Calavan averages 3.3 points per game but is also at 4.3 assists per game, a mark slightly behind Haydon and fifth in the MIAA. Conner Calavan averages 2.4 points per game and has six made 3-pointers in nine games.

UCO and Newman do not have a long history. The Bronchos own a 5-2 lead in the all-time series against the Jets of Wichita, Kansas. Central lost to Newman in the early stages of the 1982-83 basketball season but picked up wins in 1985-86 and in 1999-2000. The teams didn't meet again until Newman joined the MIAA three years ago. Central beat Newman twice in 2019-20 before the team's split two meetings last season.

Newman is 3-8 overall this season and the Jets are 0-6 in MIAA play. Newman is averaging 66.4 points per game and allowing 71.5. The Jets shoot on average 39.9 percent from the field overall, 31.3 percent from behind the 3-point line, and 75.6 percent from the free-throw line.

Israel Barnes, who has only played in 4 of 11 games, is the team's leading scorer at 19.5 points per game. He is also the leading rebounder at 5.8 per contest. Stevie Strong has played in all 11 games and averages 14.9 points per game and has hit 26 threes.

Ian Dan (9.6 PPG) and David Javorsky (7.8) also help out in the scoring load. Javorsky averages 5.7 rebounds per game.

Central Oklahoma has three home MIAA games this week beginning with Monday's contest. The Bronchos will also welcome longtime rival Northeastern State to Edmond on Thursday evening before hosting Rogers State in Edmond on Saturday.

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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

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

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

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

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