Men's Basketball 12/31/2024 11:00:00 AM Chris Brannick

Bronchos Return To Court In 2025

Central Oklahoma Hosts NAIA Williams Baptist (Arkansas) Thursday Afternoon

EDMOND – Central Oklahoma returns for 2025 with a non-conference tune up against Williams Baptist Thursday. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. inside Hamilton Field House.

UCO wrapped up the 2024 portion of its schedule with a 6-5 overall record. The Bronchos alternated two wins and two losses over the first eight games of the season before dipping below .500 at 4-5. Central has won its last two games, including an 18-point victory over MIAA rival Rogers State in its last time out.

Williams Baptist, an NAIA school out of Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, comes to Edmond with a 4-6 overall record on the season. The Eagles had an early three-game win streak but followed with a five-game slide. WBU got back in the win column December 14 but fell to former MIAA member Southwest Baptist in its most recent outing Dec. 16 in Bolivar, Missouri.

Thursday marks the first time the two schools have played.

Central Oklahoma is led by sixth-year head coach Bob Hoffman, who won his 100th game at UCO Dec. 22 in Central's rout of Rogers State. Hoffman has 707 career victories and is the fourth coach to reach 100 wins at UCO.

The Bronchos have won at least 20 games in three straight seasons under Hoffman. That has only been accomplished three times in school history, with five straight 20-win seasons (2007-11) the school record. UCO also had three straight 20-win campaigns from 1991-93.

This season's squad is averaging 80.9 points per game through 11 games played. The Bronchos have a plus-8.9 scoring margin as UCO gives up 72.0 points per game. Central Oklahoma shoots 45.8 percent overall and 34.5 percent from behind the 3-point line averaging 7.8 made 3-pointers per game. UCO also shoots 69.7 percent from the free-throw line and averages 16.9 makes from the stripe per game.

UCO ranks first in the MIAA in free-throws made and attempted (24.3) per game. The Bronchos also rank No. 1 in the league in blocks per game (5.1), turnovers forced per game (16.3), and turnover margin (4.1).

For the first two months of the season, Central Oklahoma has nearly had all five starters averaging double figures.

Israel Hart leads the team into 2025 at 16.1 points per game. JV Seat (12.6), Jordan Thompson (12.5) and Jacobi Sebock (11.8) also average double digits. Luke Haasl is just under the mark at 9.6 points per game.

Hart has a team-high 56 made field goals this season and shoots 42.4 percent from the field. He shoots 33.3 percent from behind the arc with 17 made 3-pointers, and he also leads the team in both makes and attempts at the free-throw line. Hart is 48-for-58 (82.8 pct.) at the line this year. He adds 3.8 assists, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game on the season.

Seat leads UCO with 21 made 3-pointers this season. He is shooting 41.2 percent from outside and 43.6 percent overall. Seat also is 30-for-36 at the free-throw line for an 83.3 percent mark. Seat adds 2.9 rebounds per game.

Thompson, who plays a team-high 32.0 minutes per game, leads the team at 4.5 assists per game and 2.4 steals per game. Thompson leads the MIAA and is ranked 25th nationally with 2.4 steals per game.

Sebock plays 30.0 minutes per game, second to only Thompson, and is the team's leading rebounder at 7.6 boards per game. He pulls down 2.1 offensive rebounds and 5.5 defensive rebounds per game. Sebock and Thompson are both second on the team with 52 made field goals this season. Sebock adds 1.7 steals, 1.1 blocks, and 1.1 assists per game.

Haasl did average double figures scoring through the first two weeks of the season and has never dipped below 9.0 points per game through the first two months of the season. He leads the team on defense with 19 blocks. His 1.7 blocks per game also leads the MIAA.

Haasl had seven blocks in the first month of the season and 12 more last month, including a terror stretch with 11 blocks in his last four games. Haasl ranks fourth in UCO history with 107 career blocked shots.

Parker Hannah leads Central Oklahoma's second unit. The sophomore guard who has two starts on the season, averages 7.5 points per game in 11 games played. He's on the floor for 19.5 minutes per game, is second on the team with 19 made 3-pointers, and he averages 1.2 steals per game to contribute to UCO's stifling defense.

Matthew Willenborg has also appeared in all 11 games and the sophomore forward averages 4.0 points per game, 3.8 rebounds per game, and 1.5 blocks per game. He ranks second behind Haasl in the MIAA in blocks per game.

Jarreth Ingram (3.7) and Ben Averitt (2.3) contribute some in scoring. The duo along with Connor Newton and Caiden Punt appear in almost every game.

Williams Baptist comes to Edmond averaging 73.0 points per game this season. The Eagles are led by Amarion Wilson, a junior who averages 15.6 points per game. DJ Townsend is also in double figures at 10.4 points per game. Rico Quinton (9.7), Elisha Cofield (9.0) and Charles Brown Jr. (9.0) all contribute as well. Cofield is the team's leading rebounder at 7.1 boards per game, while Quinton (6.3) and Brown Jr. (6.1) are also active on the glass.

Central Oklahoma has 17 games on its 2025 calendar beginning with Thursday's tilt with Williams Baptist. UCO will play 16 MIAA games over the next nine weeks. The Bronchos, who are 1-2 in league play, host Newman Saturday afternoon.

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Players Mentioned

#12 Ben Averitt: G; 6' 6"; Junior

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

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

#0 Israel Hart: G; 6' 3"; Senior

#33 Jarreth Ingram: F; 6' 8"; Sophomore

#1 Connor Newton: G; 5' 7"; Sophomore

#14 Caiden Punt: F; 6' 7"; Sophomore

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

#2 Jordan Thompson: G; 6' 0"; Senior

#32 JV Seat: G; 6' 3"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#12 Ben Averitt
: 6' 6"; Junior
: G

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

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

#0 Israel Hart
: 6' 3"; Senior
: G

#33 Jarreth Ingram
: 6' 8"; Sophomore
: F

#1 Connor Newton
: 5' 7"; Sophomore
: G

#14 Caiden Punt
: 6' 7"; Sophomore
: F

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

#2 Jordan Thompson
: 6' 0"; Senior
: G

#32 JV Seat
: 6' 3"; Junior
: G