Men's Basketball 1/3/2024 1:52:00 PM Chris Brannick

UCO Visits Washburn Thursday Night

No. 12 Central Oklahoma Plays Two Road Games In The MIAA This Weekend

TOPEKA, Kan. – No. 12 Central Oklahoma hits the road this week for a pair of MIAA contests beginning with Washburn Thursday night at Lee Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

Central Oklahoma is 12-2 on the season with a 4-2 record in the MIAA. The Bronchos are also scheduled to play at Emporia State Saturday afternoon. Washburn welcomes UCO to Topeka with a 7-4 overall record this season and a 3-2 record in the MIAA.

"Washburn has always been a tough test for us, they're a really good team," UCO head men's basketball coach Bob Hoffman said. "They make you work for everything. It's hard to win there too. We're going to have to be focused and ready to go."

Central is looking to get back in the win column after suffering just its second loss of the season last weekend against Fort Hays State. The Bronchos hadn't lost at home in more than a year before Sunday's setback.

UCO still though is among the best teams in the country. Aside from the national rankings from coaches and media, Central has a handful of statistical rankings it can claim as some of the best in the country.

The Bronchos are 10th in the country in assist/turnover ratio (1.63), and blocks per game (5.3). Central is ninth in the country in scoring margin (+18.9). UCO is seventh in turnovers per game (9.4). And the Bronchos rank fifth in the country in scoring defense (60.8).

The same can be said for some individuals. Danquez Dawsey ranks No. 1 in all of Division II with 87 total assists this season. He ranks seventh nationally in assists per game (6.2). Jaden Wells ranks third in the country in 3-point attempts (109) and seventh in makes (39). He also ranks ninth nationally in steals (30).

The Bronchos are averaging 79.6 points per game this season and allowing just 60.8 per contest. UCO shoots 47.0 percent as a team and 36.0 percent from behind the 3-point line. Central also shoots 71.6 percent from the free-throw line. The Bronchos average 8.1 made 3-pointers per game and 14.2 made free-throws per game.

Wells leads the team in several statistical categories. He averages 17.1 points per game, 3.6 rebounds per game, 2.1 steals per game, and 1.7 assists per game. Wells is a 38.9 percent shooter overall, 35.8 percent from behind the arc, and 89.5 percent from the line. He plays more minutes than any other Broncho too, averaging 30.4 minutes per game.

Dawsey has been putting up blistering numbers this season. He averages 13.5 points per game, 6.2 assists per game, 4.4 rebounds per game, and 1.5 steals per game. He shoots 44.6 percent from the floor, 41.0 percent from behind the arc, and 82.0 percent from the free-throw line.

Luke Haasl has been key on both ends of the floor for the Bronchos this season. He is averaging 10.2 points per game this season to go with a team-high 5.8 rebounds per game. Haasl also leads the team with 1.9 blocks per game. He shoots 62.2 percent from the floor.

Mike Quick Jr., Central's sixth man, is averaging 7.9 points per game off the bench this season. The sophomore is shooting 56.9 percent overall and 53.8 percent from behind the arc (14-for-26).

Jalyn Turner is putting up the best numbers of his career this season. The fifth-year senior is averaging 5.3 points and 2.7 rebounds per game. Turner is set to play in his 130th career game with the Bronchos Thursday night.

A few other reserves have been key for the Bronchos this season. Matthew Willenborg is averaging 5.1 points and 4.3 rebounds per game, Parker Hannah is putting up an even 5.0 points per game, and Majok Majouk is averaging 4.6 points.

Preston Aymond, a fourth-year junior and third-year Broncho, is averaging 4.4 points per game through 14 games played this season. Aymond also pulls down 5.1 rebounds per game, second to only Haasl on the team.

Washburn, which is 5-0 at home this season and on a two-game win streak, has not played since Dec. 19. But the Ichabods are averaging 81.8 points per game this season and allow just 70.1 per contest. WU shoots 49.1 percent from the floor, 42.1 percent from behind the arc, and 74.2 percent from the free-throw line. The 'Bods average 8.9 made 3-pointers per game and 13.1 made free-throws per game.

Sam Ungashick is the team's leading scorer at 16.2 points per game. He shoots 51.6 percent overall and 50 percent from behind the 3-point line (28-for-56). Andrew Orr (13.3) and Jack Bachelor (11.0) also average double figures. Brady Christian is the team's leading rebounder at 8.1 boards per game. He also averages 8.1 points per game.

Central Oklahoma will stay in Kansas for the weekend. The Bronchos take on Emporia State Saturday at 3:30 p.m. The Hornets of Emporia, Kansas are 10-3 on the season, 3-2 in the MIAA, and 9-0 at home in White Auditorium.

UCO returns home next week. The Bronchos host Northeastern State Wednesday, Jan. 10 and Rogers State Saturday, Jan. 13. Those two contests are the only home dates for the Bronchos in January.

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Players Mentioned

#23 Preston Aymond: F; 6' 7"; Junior

#3 Danquez Dawsey: G; 6' 2"; Junior

#11 Luke Haasl: F; 6' 10"; Junior

#0 Mike Quick Jr.: G; 6' 5"; Sophomore

#10 Jalyn Turner: F; 6' 6"; Senior

#2 Jaden Wells: G; 6' 1"; Junior

#5 Majok Majouk: F; 6' 10"; Sophomore

#22 Parker Hannah: G; 6' 2"; Freshman

#21 Matthew Willenborg: F; 6' 7"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#23 Preston Aymond
: 6' 7"; Junior
: F

#3 Danquez Dawsey
: 6' 2"; Junior
: G

#11 Luke Haasl
: 6' 10"; Junior
: F

#0 Mike Quick Jr.
: 6' 5"; Sophomore
: G

#10 Jalyn Turner
: 6' 6"; Senior
: F

#2 Jaden Wells
: 6' 1"; Junior
: G

#5 Majok Majouk
: 6' 10"; Sophomore
: F

#22 Parker Hannah
: 6' 2"; Freshman
: G

#21 Matthew Willenborg
: 6' 7"; Freshman
: F