Men's Basketball 2/1/2023 8:55:00 AM Chris Brannick

No. 6 Bronchos Hosting Kearney

EDMOND – Central Oklahoma begins the final month of the 2022-23 regular season 19-2, in first place in the MIAA, and with a pair of home games this week. Up first, Nebraska Kearney Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

UCO is ranked No. 6 in the country in the latest NABC Top 25. The Bronchos are ranked No. 4 in the country in the latest D2SIDA Top 25. Central Oklahoma is 19-2 overall and has a 13-2 record in the MIAA.

"The focus has been and will be this week playing our game," UCO head men's basketball coach Bob Hoffman said. "We have to be focused on doing what we do and trying make sure we're not worried about anything else."

UCO hosts UNK Thursday night. The Bronchos also welcome Fort Hays State to Edmond on Saturday afternoon.

Central Oklahoma also looks to open the new month with a new win streak. The Bronchos started the season 7-0 before losing to Missouri Southern in December. Then UCO went on a 12-game win streak before losing to Missouri Southern this past weekend.

Kearney comes to Edmond 4-16 on the season and the Lopers are 2-12 in the MIAA. These two schools met in December in Nebraska and Central picked up a 62-53 win.

UCO welcomes UNK averaging 78 points per game this season. The Bronchos give up just 60.9 to the opposition. Central Oklahoma shoots 46.5 percent from the field overall, 34.6 percent from behind the 3-point line, and 76.6 percent from the free-throw line. UCO is also averaging 7.5 made 3-pointers per game and 17.4 made free-throws per game.

Jaden Wells continues to lead the Bronchos in scoring at 17.6 points per game. The sharpshooter is hitting 45.1 percent of his shots overall, 44.4 percent of his 3-pointers, and 90.1 percent of his free-throws. Wells also averages 4.2 rebounds per game and 1.5 steals per game.

Camryn Givens is second on the team in scoring at 13.9 points per game and is also the second leading rebounder at 6.0 boards per game. Givens shoots 49.3 percent overall, 40 percent from behind the 3-point line, and 83.8 percent from the free-throw line.

Wells and Givens are both in Central Oklahoma's 1,000-point club. Givens ranks in the Top 20 with 1,301 career points while Wells is at 1,054.

Curtis Haywood is also averaging double figures for the Bronchos at 12.7 points per game. He leads the team at 6.3 rebounds per game and is also one of the best in the MIAA in assists, steals and blocks. Haywood, who ranks eighth in rebounds, ranks fourth in assists (3.7), third in steals (1.9), and 10th in blocked shots (0.9).

A pair of bigs lend near equal support for the Bronchos this season and are also among the best in the MIAA.

Preston Aymond is scoring 7.5 points per game to go with 4.7 rebounds per game. Aymond also adds 0.8 blocks per game. Luke Haasl is scoring 6.7 points per game to go with 4.8 rebounds per game. Haasl leads the MIAA in blocks with 32 total and has the best per-game rate at 1.5 blocks per game.

Danquez Dawsey (4.6 points, 2.3 rebounds) and Jalyn Turner (4.5 points, 2.4 rebounds) are also key contributors for the Bronchos.

UNK comes to Edmond averaging 67.0 points per game and is allowing 74.4 points per game. The Lopers are led by Darrian Nebeker, who scores 16.3 points per game. Nebeker is also second on the team in rebounding at 5.4 boards per game. Sean Evans also scores in double figures at 14.2 points per game. Ryder Kirsch (8.4 points) leads the team with 5.5 rebounds per game.

Central Oklahoma has seven games remaining in the 2022-23 season. The Bronchos host Nebraska Kearney Thursday night and Fort Hays State Saturday afternoon. UCO will play on the road next week but only one game, at Washburn next Saturday. Central then returns home for a pair of MIAA contests with Rogers State and Northeastern State. Then the Bronchos wrap up the regular season at Northwest Missouri and at Newman.

UCO has already secured a postseason berth in the 2023 MIAA Basketball Championships in Kansas City, Missouri March 1-5. The Bronchos are in first place this week to finish the season in the same spot it also did a year ago.

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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