Men's Basketball 11/30/2022 9:00:00 AM Chris Brannick

No. 7 Central Oklahoma Opens MIAA Play This Week

UCO Visits Central Missouri and Lincoln in First Two League Contests

WARRENSBURG, Mo. – No. 7 Central Oklahoma opens MIAA play this week with a pair of contests in Missouri, beginning with a Thursday night matchup at Central Missouri. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

UCO is also scheduled to face Lincoln in Jefferson City, Missouri on Saturday at 3 p.m.

"We're excited to get conference play started but we know we're in four a tough test," UCO head men's basketball coach Bob Hoffman said. "Central Missouri is a good team and they got us in Edmond last year. We know we need to be focused and work really hard if we want to get a win on Thursday."

Central Oklahoma is off to a 5-0 start for the first time since the beginning of the 2010-11 season. The Bronchos won three straight in Edmond before winning a pair of games at the Hoops in Hawaii Classic.

UCO is averaging 99.2 points per game this season, which is the third-best mark in the country entering the month of December. Central Oklahoma's +43.2 scoring margin is also the best mark of any school in Division II.

The Bronchos boast several stout marks on defense. Holding opponents to 19.2 percent from behind the 3-point line is better than any other team in the country. Forcing 23.2 turnovers per game is the second-most of any team in the country. And holding opponents to 34.5 percent shooting overall, is the fourth-best mark in the country.

Central also boasts the No. 4 rebounds per game line in Division II at 44.8. boards per contest.

UCO is led by four players averaging double figures through five games this season.

Jaden Wells is the team's leading scorer at 20.0 points per game. He also averages 3.8 rebounds, 3.0 steals, and 1.6 assists per game. The sharpshooter from Texas is posting 50 percent from the floor overall, 50 percent from behind the 3-point line, and 100 percent from the free-throw line.

Camryn Givens is averaging 14.2 points per game and 5.4 rebounds per game. He is shooting 58.1 percent overall, 64.3 percent from behind the 3-point line, and 85.7 percent from the free-throw line.

Callen Haydon, who was named MVP of the Hoops in Hawaii Classic, is averaging 13.6 points per game. Haydon is the team leader in setting everyone else up and is averaging 5.2 assists per game. He is also shooting 47.8 percent overall and 87.5 percent from the free-throw line to go with his 2.0 steals per game average.

Curtis Haywood is the fourth in double figures at 11.4 points per game. He is the team's leading rebounder at 7.8 boards per game. Haywood is shooting 47.7 percent from the floor overall and is averaging 1.0 block and 0.6 steals per game.

Along with Preston Aymond's 5.6 points per game, the UCO starting lineup is averaging 64.8 points per contest, leaving the Bronchos with a 34.4 points per game average from its bench.

Central Missouri has a 4-2 record in the early 2022-23 season. The Mules lost its first two games of the new year to Upper Iowa and East Central before winning the last four against non-Division II opponents.

UCM is averaging 79.6 points per game and shooting 44.7 percent from the floor as a team. The Mules shoot 35.2 percent from behind the 3-point line and 75.7 percent from the free-throw line.

Kobe Campbell averages a team-high 15.0 points per game and Gaven Pinkley adds 13.3 points per contest. Mikel Henderson makes it three in double figures with his 12.3 points per game average. Ben Fritz, who averages 9.3 points per game, is the team's leading rebounder at 6.5 boards per game.

Central Oklahoma will move on to Lincoln Saturday afternoon before returning to Edmond for a two-game homestand next weekend. The Bronchos are scheduled to take on Missouri Southern Thursday, Dec. 8 before playing hosts to Pittsburg State on Sunday, Dec. 11.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

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

#2 Jaden Wells: G; 6' 1"; Sophomore

#0 Curtis Haywood: G; 6' 5"; Senior

Players Mentioned

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

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

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

#2 Jaden Wells
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: G

#0 Curtis Haywood
: 6' 5"; Senior
: G