Men's Basketball 2/9/2023 10:29:00 AM Chris Brannick

No. 6 UCO Heads To Washburn

TOPEKA, Kan. – No. 6 Central Oklahoma visits Washburn Saturday in an MIAA contest in what is the only game of the week for the highly rated Bronchos. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m.

UCO is 21-2 this season, ranked No. 6 in the country in the latest national coaches' poll, and No. 4 in the country in the latest national media poll. UCO is also 15-2 in the MIAA and in first place in the league standings with three weeks left in the season. The Bronchos have five games left, beginning with Saturday afternoon, as they look to defend their MIAA title.

"It's hard to win on the road in the MIAA so we know we have to play our best basketball," UCO head men's basketball coach Bob Hoffman said. "Every game from here on out is going to be the most important game. You're going to get the best shot from everyone and you have to be ready to play and be focused on the task at hand."

Central Oklahoma has a half-game lead on Northwest Missouri in the team standings with the Bearcats from Maryville, Missouri playing at Rogers State Thursday night. UCO also owns the tiebreaker with Northwest and the two teams play for the second time in two weeks.

This weekend, the Bronchos head to Washburn averaging 77.6 points per game on the season. UCO shoots 46.6 percent from the floor, 35.1 percent from behind the 3-point line, and 76.2 percent from the free-throw line. Central Oklahoma averages 7.6 made 3-pointers per game and an even 17.0 made free-throws per game.

Defensively, Central Oklahoma ranks among the national leaders. UCO is allowing 60.2 points per game, which ranks sixth in the country. UCO ranks second in Division II in defensive field-goal percentage, holding opponents to a measly 38 percent from the floor on average. That mark is also 0.1 percent off the national leader.

The Bronchos also have the fifth-best scoring margin in the country this season. UCO outscores opponents by an average of 17.4 points per game.

Leading the Bronchos this season is third-year sophomore guard Jaden Wells, who averages 17.9 points per game. Wells is one of the best shooters in the country. He his shooting 46 percent overall, 44.6 percent from behind the 3-point line, and 88.4 percent from the free-throw line. Wells is third in the MIAA in both total 3-pointers made (61) and makes per game (3.0). He also averages 4.4 rebounds per game and 1.5 steals per game through 22 games this season.

Camryn Givens is the second leading scorer at 13.8 points per game this season. He shoots 49.3 percent overall, 38.8 percent from behind the 3-point line, and 80.2 percent from the free-throw line. Givens averages 6.0 rebounds per game, also the second most on the team.

Wells and Givens are both members of Central Oklahoma's 1,000-point club. Givens has moved up to 13th on UCO's all-time scoring list with 1,327 career points and Wells is 31st with 1,096 career points.

Curtis Haywood comes in third in scoring for the Bronchos at 12.7 points per game and he is the leading rebounder at 6.3 boards per game. Haywood also leads the team in assists (3.9) and steals (2.2) while coming in second in blocks (0.8). The senior ranks in the top 10 in the MIAA in everything other than scoring this season.

Preston Aymond and Luke Haasl are providing UCO with dominant play at the forward position this season. Aymond averages 7.4 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. Haasl averages 6.4 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. Aymond is shooting 46.3 percent overall, has 20 made 3-pointers, and is an 89.3 percent free-throw shooter. Haasl is shooting 60.2 percent overall and leads the MIAA in blocked shots (35, 1.5 per game).

Danquez Dawsey adds 5.3 points per game, 2.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game. Jalyn Turner adds 4.2 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game.

Washburn welcomes UCO to Topeka, Kansas this weekend coming off a 30-plus point victory at Newman on Wednesday night. The Ichabods are 11-11 overall and 8-8 in league play, tied for seventh in the standings. Washburn averages 71.7 points per game and is allowing 68.0 from the opposition this season. Andrew Orr (13.9) and Tyler Nelson (12.2) are the two leading scorers for Washburn.

Central Oklahoma is scheduled to host Rogers State next Wednesday and Northeastern State next Saturday in the final two home games this season for the Bronchos. UCO will honor its seniors prior to the NSU game next Saturday. The Bronchos visit Northwest Missouri and Newman the following week to close out the regular season before heading to Kansas City, Missouri for the 2023 MIAA Basketball Championships March 1-5 at Municipal Auditorium.

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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