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University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

The Official Site of Central Oklahoma University Athletics Central Oklahoma Athletics
Danquez Dawsey
53
Central Okla. CentOK 26-5,18-4 Mid-America Intercollegiate
61
Winner Northwest Mo. St. NMSU 30-2,20-2 Mid-America Intercollegiate
Central Okla. CentOK
26-5,18-4 Mid-America Intercollegiate
53
Final
61
Northwest Mo. St. NMSU
30-2,20-2 Mid-America Intercollegiate
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Central Okla. CentOK 25 28 53
Northwest Mo. St. NMSU 33 28 61

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Chris Brannick

UCO Falls In MIAA Basketball Championship Game

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Central Oklahoma went toe-to-toe with Northwest Missouri for the third time this season and just like the first two, the heavyweight fight lived up to the billing. Unfortunately for the Bronchos, the 2023 MIAA Men's Basketball Championship slipped away in the final minute. Northwest Missouri 61, Central Oklahoma 53.
 
The Bronchos tied the game, 53-53, with a Curtis Haywood layup with 3:04 to play in the game. But an 8-0 run including six free-throws by Northwest Missouri followed to end the game.
 
"I'm proud of this team," UCO head men's basketball coach Bob Hoffman said. "We fought for it. We were right there. I wish I could've done more to help them get it done. We were close. But credit to Northwest Missouri. They're a great team."
 
Central Oklahoma now awaits the NCAA Division II Selection Show, scheduled for 10 p.m. on ncaa.com Sunday night, to see where the Bronchos will play in the NCAA Tournament next weekend. All indications point to the eight-team Central Regional being held in Maryville, Missouri beginning Saturday, March 11.
 
UCO and Northwest started off with stellar defense as neither team scored in the first two and a half minutes. The Bronchos led 1-0 after three minutes before Northwest finally got on the board. The Bronchos and the Bearcats exchanged the lead seven times in the first 20 minutes. Luke Haasl gave the Bronchos a 12-11 lead with 9:40 left in the first half and that was the last lead the Bronchos had. Northwest outscored UCO 20-12 after Haasl's layup.
 
UCO responded with a 7-0 run to start the second half, spanning almost the first four minutes of the half. The Bronchos cut a 33-25 halftime deficit to one points with a pair of Jaden Wells free-throws. Northwest responded though with a 3-pointer to push the lead to more than one possession again. But UCO kept pushing.
 
Central Oklahoma took its first lead of the second half when Danquez Dawsey hit a 3-pointer with 15 minutes to play to put the Bronchos up 7-36. UCO led 39-36 and 41-38 before Northwest made another rally. The Bronchos were behind again when a Northwest 3-pointer with eight minutes to play made it 45-43.
 
Wells hit a 3-pointer to cut it to two, 48-46, then hit a pair of free-throws to cut it to one, 49-48, with 6:14 to play. Haywood hit a 3-pointer to tie the game, 51-51, then made the driving layup with 3:04 to play to tie it one last time.
 
Wells led Central Oklahoma with 13 points on 3 of 10 shooting, including two 3-pointers. Dawsey scored 12 points on 4 of 14 shooting, and all came on made 3-pointers. Haywood finished with 11 points on 3 of 7 shooting, including one 3-pointer.
 
UCO shot 38.6 percent overall, making 17 of 44 total shots. The Bronchos hit 8 of 21 threes and went 11-for-17 at the free-throw line.
 
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