Skip To Main Content

University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

The Official Site of Central Oklahoma University Athletics Central Oklahoma Athletics
Jalyn Turner
75
Cedarville CU 1-1,0-0 G-MAC
82
Winner Central Okla. CentOK 2-0,0-0 Mid-America Intercollegiate
Cedarville CU
1-1,0-0 G-MAC
75
Final
82
Central Okla. CentOK
2-0,0-0 Mid-America Intercollegiate
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Cedarville CU 35 40 75
Central Okla. CentOK 44 38 82

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Chris Brannick

Central Wins Second Game In Florida

UCO Beat Cedarville 82-75 Sunday At The Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic

LAKELAND, Fla. – Central Oklahoma erased an eight-point second-half deficit to beat Cedarville (Ohio) 82-75 Sunday afternoon at the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic at Florida Southern.
 
Central Oklahoma improved to 2-0 on the young season. The Bronchos, ranked No. 9 in the country, beat No. 25 Mercyhurst on Saturday. UCO never trailed in the game and didn't trail in the first half of Sunday's contest with Cedarville.
 
A big run in the second half gave Cedarville a lead, but the Bronchos responded with a big run of their own and after taking control late, UCO clamped down on another victory.
 
"The guys played great today," UCO head coach Bob Hoffman said. "And I don't mean it was perfect, but to face that kind of adversity and challenge, and then to respond and find a way to get the win, that's a big deal. The guys did a great job. They earned this win today."
 
It was an eight-point lead for Cedarville with 11:18 remaining in the game when the Bronchos seemed to be stuck in a rut. After leading 44-35 at halftime, Cedarville had outscored the Bronchos 24-7 in the first 8:42 of the second half. But UCO had an answer.
 
Ben Averitt made back-to-back jumpers to cut it to four. Jalyn Turner knocked down a jumper to get to three. And then a Jaden Wells steal turned into a fastbreak layup for Preston Aymond to cut it one, 66-65, with 5:36 to play.
 
Danquez Dawsey tied the game with a free-throw, then got a steal on the other end. Luke Haasl followed an Aymond miss with an emphatic dunk to put the Bronchos back in front, 68-66, with 4:12 left.
 
Cedarville tied it again before Wells hit two free-throws to put the Bronchos up again. Then Wells did what he does best.
 
With 2:41 remaining, Turner found Wells for a corner 3-pointer that put the Bronchos in control down the stretch. Central Oklahoma made nine free-throws in the final two minutes. Cedarville couldn't get closer than three as UCO found another victory.
 
Central Oklahoma shot 50 percent from the floor in the first half (17-for-34) and 50 percent from the floor in the second half (8-for-16). UCO hit 9 of 17 threes in the game and went 23-for-29 from the free-throw line (79.3 percent).
 
Wells led all scorers with 29 points on 7 of 11 shooting. He went 6-for-9 from behind the arc and 9-for-10 from the free-throw line. Wells also had four assists, three steals, and three rebounds.
 
Wells started the season third on UCO's all-time list for made 3-pointers with 226. He passed Seth Heckart (229, 2012-16) after making four against Mercyhurst on Saturday. Wells is now at 236 and the school record is in sight. Sam Belt made 263 threes from 2004-08.
 
Dawsey also had 20 points to lead Central Oklahoma. The junior point guard added five assists and four rebounds. He was 5-for-14 from the floor, 2-for-4 from behind the arc, and 8-for-10 from the free-throw line.
 
Aymond finished with nine points and five rebounds. Haasl had four points, four steals, and one blocked shot. Turner also scored four points and had three assists, two rebounds, one block, and one steal.
 
Parker Hannah and Averitt both scored six off the bench and Mike Quick Jr. added four. Those 16 points were all of Central's bench points in the game.
 
Central Oklahoma returns home Monday, but will make another weekend road trip to Tahlequah next week. The Bronchos take on Mary (N.D.) Friday and Northwestern Oklahoma State Saturday as part of the Central Region Challenge at Northeastern State in Tahlequah.
 
UCO plays its first home game of the 2023-24 season Sunday, Nov. 19 against Southwestern Christian at Hamilton Field House.
Print Friendly Version
Skip Ad
Skip Sponsors