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University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

The Official Site of Central Oklahoma University Athletics Central Oklahoma Athletics
Jaden Wells
61
Neb.-Kearney UNK 4-6,2-4 Mid-America Intercollegiate
99
Winner Central Okla. CentOK 12-1,4-1 Mid-America Intercollegiate
Neb.-Kearney UNK
4-6,2-4 Mid-America Intercollegiate
61
Final
99
Central Okla. CentOK
12-1,4-1 Mid-America Intercollegiate
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Neb.-Kearney UNK 25 36 61
Central Okla. CentOK 47 52 99

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Chris Brannick

Jaden Wells Becomes 3-Point King In UCO Victory

Central Oklahoma Beat Nebraska Kearney 99-61 Friday Night

EDMOND – A record-setting night for Jaden Wells highlighted No. 5 Central Oklahoma's blowout win in its return to the courts Friday night with the Bronchos dominating Nebraska Kearney 99-61 at Hamilton Field House.
 
UCO improved to 12-1 on the season and 4-1 in the MIAA. The fifth-ranked Bronchos are back again Sunday afternoon, taking on Fort Hays State at 2 p.m. inside Hamilton.
 
Friday, a 15-year old record fell as Wells continued his outstanding shot-making ability in Central's win. A fourth-year junior from Hurst, Texas, Wells sank five 3-pointers on Friday night. His fourth tied the school record for makes in a career, and moments later, he hit the fifth.
 
"Jaden is a special player and we're glad he's on our team," UCO head men's basketball coach Bob Hoffman said. "He can make it from anywhere, and he tries sometimes, but seriously, he is such a great teammate, a great young man, he does everything the right way. We are so proud of him and he deserves to be celebrated."
 
Wells hit one 3-pointer in the first half and hit two quick ones in the second half as UCO ambushed the Lopers out of halftime.
 
Then, with 13:07 left in the game, Wells hit one in the corner off a pass from Preston Aymond to tie the record of 263 career 3-pointers made. Exactly two minutes later, and from the same spot in the corner, Wells got a pass from Danquez Dawsey and drained the record-breaking three.
 
Sam Belt set the previous record with 263 made 3-pointers during his career from 2004-08.
 
Wells finished with a team-high 17 points. He went 6-for-16 from the floor and was 5-for-12 from behind the arc. Wells added two rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
 
A 12-0 run gave Central Oklahoma a 14-2 lead just four minutes into the game Friday. The Bronchos never looked back. UCO led by as many as 24 points in the first half and took a 47-25 lead into halftime.
 
The second half had a similar start. A 13-0 run turned into an 18-1 run in just 3:31 of gametime. The Bronchos were way out in front, 65-28, with 16:14 to play in the second half.
 
UCO shot 49.3 percent overall on Friday, making 37 of 75 shots from the floor. The Bronchos were 19-for-39 in the first half and 18-for-36 in the second half.
 
UCO also went 14-for-30 from behind the arc on Friday night, a 46.7 percent rate. The Bronchos hit eight in the first half and six in the second half, including four from Wells.
 
Central added 11 free-throws on 14 attempts, making all 10 shots from the line in the second half.
 
Five Bronchos scored in double figures. Joining Wells was Jalyn Turner, who scored his 10 all in the first half, and Preston Aymond, who had a big game with 10 points and eight rebounds. Matthew Willenborg added 11 points off the bench.
 
Dawsey also scored in double figures, putting up 14 points. He added eight assists and six rebounds as he continues to prove he's one of the best players in the MIAA. Dawsey also had two steals Friday night.
 
Luke Haasl added eight points, three rebounds and three blocks. Caiden Punt erupted for eight points off the bench with the true freshman also adding six rebounds and a blocked shot.
 
Mike Quick Jr. chipped in six points and Jarreth Ingram had five points. Parker Hannah and Majok Majouk both scored three points and Gunner Korstjens and Evan Barber each had two points. Connor Newton was the only Broncho to not score on Friday but the freshman guard did manage three assists and two steals in seven minutes of action.
 
Central Oklahoma and Fort Hays State square off Sunday at 2 p.m. in the final game of 2023. The MIAA showdown pits two of the best defenses in the country against one another. Fort Hays State has the No. 1 scoring defense in the country at 56.8 points per game while Central Oklahoma is fourth at 60.3 points per game allowed this season.
 
Fort Hays State, which is receiving votes in the NABC national rankings, is 8-3 this season with a 3-2 record in the MIAA.
 
 
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