Men's Basketball 2/7/2024 4:30:00 PM Chris Brannick

UCO Visits Kearney, Hays

Bronchos Take On Lopers In First Of Two MIAA Road Games This Weekend

KEARNEY, Neb. – Central Oklahoma has a short two-game road trip on tap this weekend that begins Thursday with an MIAA matchup against Nebraska Kearney. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

UCO is 16-7 on the season and has a 8-7 record in the MIAA. Kearney is 5-15 on the year and 2-13 in league play. Central Oklahoma will also play at Fort Hays State Saturday at 4 p.m. The Tigers of Hays, Kansas are 16-5 overall and 11-4 in the MIAA.

"We're really banged up right now so we're hopeful that some other guys are going to step up for us," fifth-year UCO head men's basketball coach Bob Hoffman said. "We've had some guys do that already this year, I think we have a lot of guys that are capable of helping us out. But we need them now with having a shorter bench. Kearney is a good team and it's going to take a whole team effort."

Central Oklahoma hosted Nebraska Kearney back on Dec. 29 in Hamilton Field House. The Bronchos won 99-61 in a game they never trailed. In that game, Jaden Wells broke the UCO career 3-point record with his 265th career make from behind the arc. That was his 99th career game. Now at 109, Wells has 289 makes from deep and is looking to hit rare company at 300.

Wells would be just the fifth player in MIAA history to make 300 3-pointers if he hits that mark in the coming weeks.

He has already put himself in rare company in UCO history. In addition to the 3-point makes record, he has the 3-point attempts record too (732). Wells has scored 1,660 career points and ranks fourth in school history on that list. He also ranks fourth in career steals (163).

Danquez Dawsey is Central's second leading scorer at 13.7 points per game and the junior point guard leads the team averaging 5.6 assists per game. Dawsey adds 3.9 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game too. The Lawton, Oklahoma native is shooting 43.4 percent overall and 39.7 percent from behind the 3-point line. He adds an 83.3 percent mark from the free-throw line.

Mike Quick Jr. chips in 9.4 points per game off the bench for UCO. The sophomore from New York is shooting 47.9 percent this year overall, 44.2 percent from behind the 3-point line, and 66.7 percent from the free-throw line.

Wells (120), Dawsey (90), and Quick Jr. (81) make up most of the free-throw attemps for the season for UCO. The Bronchos shoot 74.8 percent from the line and average 16 makes per game from the stripe.

Luke Haasl adds 8.7 points and 5.6 rebounds per game to the team this season. The junior big man also leads the team with 36 blocked shots this season. Haasl also shoots 63.4 percent to lead the team in field-goal percentage.

Majok Majouk, who moved into a starting role following a season-ending injury to Preston Aymond, is averaging 5.2 poitns and 2.8 rebounds per game. Majouk shoots 46.4 percent from the floor and he has also added 23 blocks on defense.

Jalyn Turner chips in 5.1 points and 2.4 rebounds. Matthew Willenborg adds 4.3 points and 3.8 rebounds. He also has 18 blocked shots in 23 games played during this his true freshman season.

Nebraska Kearney welcomes the Bronchos to town averaging 71.6 points per game. The Lopers give up 84.4 to opponents.

UNK does have four averaging double figures. Damiri Lindo leads the team at 12.7 points per game. D'Aundre Samuels (12.4), Sean Evans (11.0), and Sean Murphy (10.4) also scored in double figures.

Central Oklahoma will play at Fort Hays State Saturday at 4 p.m. to wrap up the short trip. The Bronchos only have one game on the schedule next week, hosting Washburn on Saturday, Feb. 17 at 3:30 p.m. UCO his hosting Alumni Day in conjunction with the game.

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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

#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

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