Men's Basketball 1/25/2023 4:30:00 PM Chris Brannick

No. 4 Bronchos Visit Pittsburg State

PITTSBURG, Kan. – No. 4 Central Oklahoma hits the road this week for a pair of MIAA games, beginning with Pittsburg State Thursday night. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

UCO is also visiting Missouri Southern on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.

Central Oklahoma is 18-1 on the season and 12-1 in the MIAA. The Bronchos, riding an 11-game winning streak, head into the weekend in first place in the league standings. Pittsburg State, which has lost seven in a row, is 5-14 overall and 2-11 in league competition this season.

"It's very important to approach every game ready to play your best," UCO head men's basketball coach Bob Hoffman said. "You have to be ready to play and ready to go, especially in this league. Pittsburg State has some talented kids and a great coach, so we need to be focused on the task at hand."

UCO beat Pittsburg State 77-60 in Edmond in December following its only loss of the season two nights before to Saturday's opponent, Missouri Southern. The Bronchos have won 11 straight since beating Pitt and that mark is the eighth-best in school history.

The Bronchos head to Pittsburg State not only ranked in the top five in the country in the national polls, but statistically, Central Oklahoma is one of the best in the country as well.

UCO ranks second in Division II in defensive field-goal percentage (37.4), and sixth in DII in scoring defense (60.1), scoring margin (18.7), and free-throws made per game (17.9). UCO is also 11th nationally in defensive 3-point field-goal percentage at (29.3).

The Bronchos rank first in the MIAA in 10 different statistical categories.

Central Oklahoma heads to Pitt State averaging 78.8 points per game this season and the Bronchos allow 60.1 points per game. UCO is shooting 46.6 percent overall, 34.9 percent from behind the arc with an average of 7.5 made threes per game, and 76.4 percent from the free-throw line with an average of 17.9 makes per game.

Jaden Wells is the leading scorer for the Bronchos through 19 games this season. The third-year sophomore, who has played in 18 games, is averaging 18.8 points per game, which is the best mark in the MIAA. Wells also averages 4.3 rebounds, 1.6 steals, and 1.5 assists per game.

Camryn Givens is averaging 13.5 points per game to go with 6.1 rebounds per game. Givens is shooting 49.2 percent from the floor, 38.7 percent from behind the 3-point line, and 84.8 percent from the free-throw line.

Curtis Haywood adds 12.4 points per game and leads the team with 6.4 rebounds per game. He is also averaging 3.5 assists, 1.9 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game. Haywood is the only player in the MIAA to rank in the Top 10 in the league in rebounds, assists, steals and blocks.

Preston Aymond has been steady for the Bronchos in averaging 7.2 points and 4.6 rebounds per game this season. He and Luke Haasl, 6.6 points and 4.8 rebounds, have been crucial for the Bronchos in the post this season. Haasl also leads the MIAA in blocked shots, averaging 1.5 per game through 19 games.

UCO has also had solid production from Danquez Dawsey (4.7 points, 2.5 rebounds) and Jalyn Turner (4.5 points, 2.6 rebounds) this season. Both have played key roles off the bench and in the starting lineup.

Pittsburg State is averaging 64.3 points per game as a team this season, led by a pair of double-digit scorers. Quentin Hardrict averages 12.9 points and Deshaun English 12.8 points per game this season. English is also the team's leading rebounder at 10.1 boards per game.

Central Oklahoma will move on from Pittsburg State to face Missouri Southern Saturday afternoon with aim at avenging its only loss this season. The Bronchos are home for two games next weekend, with UCO set to host Nebraska Kearney on Feb. 2 and Fort Hays State Feb. 4.

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Players Mentioned

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

#3 Danquez Dawsey: G; 6' 2"; Sophomore

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

#10 Jalyn Turner: F; 6' 6"; Junior

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

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

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

Players Mentioned

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

#3 Danquez Dawsey
: 6' 2"; Sophomore
: G

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

#10 Jalyn Turner
: 6' 6"; Junior
: F

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

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

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