Men's Basketball 12/7/2022 2:00:00 PM Chris Brannick

No. 6 Bronchos Host Missouri Southern

EDMOND – No. 6 Central Oklahoma makes its return to Hamilton Field House this week with an MIAA matchup against Missouri Southern, scheduled for Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

The Bronchos are 7-0 on the season and have a 2-0 record in the MIAA. Southern is 4-4 and has an 0-2 record in league play.

"It'll be good to play in front of our home crowd again and we're looking forward to a good game," UCO head men's basketball coach Bob Hoffman said. "Missouri Southern is a good team and they're athletic. We're looking forward to a tough test on Thursday."

Central Oklahoma moved up in the national rankings for the fourth consecutive poll this week. The Bronchos are not only picked No. 6 in the country by the coaches, but statistically UCO ranks among the best.

UCO ranks in the top-five in the country in nine different team categories. The Bronchos are also sixth in scoring at 91.1 points per game. Central Oklahoma has the No. 1 scoring margin (33.9) of any team in the country and the No. 1 3-point defense (22.8 pct.).

UCO is third in steals per game (13.1) and turnover margin (9.3), and fourth in defensive field-goal percentage (36.3), and turnovers forced per game (21.0). Central is fifth fouls per game (12.7) and scoring defense (57.3).

Offensively, a trio Bronchos are averaging in double figures scoring this season.

Jaden Wells leads the group at 20.1 points per game. He's the leading scorer in the MIAA heading into Week 6. Wells is shooting 50 percent overall, 50.9 percent from 3-point range, and 95.2 percent from the free-throw line. His 29 made 3-pointers through seven games are also the eighth-most of any player in the country.

Camryn Givens and Curtis Haywood are both averaging 11.6 points per game.

Haywood is the team's leading rebounder at 7.3 boards per game. He also averages 2.7 assists, 1.1 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game.

Givens averages 5.3 rebounds per game and 1.0 steal per game.

Luke Haasl – 7.9 points and 5.0 rebounds per game – is also a key figure on offense.

Wells, along with Tre'Veon Ellis, are both key in helping Central's defense. Wells averages 2.6 steals and Ellis is averaging 2.1 steals per game.

Missouri Southern comes to Edmond averaging 72.3 points per game and the Lions shoot 43.4 percent from the floor. MSSU also shoots 32.8 percent from behind the 3-point line, averaging 7.8 made 3-pointers per game, and 66.7 percent from the free-throw line with 11.0 made free-throws per game.

Southern is led by Avery Taggart, who averages 12.0 points per game. Parker Long also averages double figures right at 10.0 points per game. Ndongo Ndaw, who averages 7.3 points per game, is the team's leading rebounder at 7.5 boards per game.

Central Oklahoma will also welcome Pittsburg State to Hamilton Field House this weekend. The Bronchos are hosting the Gorillas of Pittsburg, Kansas on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. The game was moved off Saturday afternoon due to UCO's hosting of the Oklahoma High School Football State Championships.

Central Oklahoma will wrap up its Fall semester next weekend on the road. The Bronchos visit Fort Hays State and Nebraska Kearney before taking a holiday break.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

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

#5 Tre'Veon Ellis: G; 6' 1"; Senior

#11 Luke Haasl: F; 6' 10"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

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

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

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

#5 Tre'Veon Ellis
: 6' 1"; Senior
: G

#11 Luke Haasl
: 6' 10"; Sophomore
: F