Men's Basketball 1/15/2025 9:30:00 AM Chris Brannick

Bronchos, Lions, Thursday In Joplin

Central Oklahoma Visits MSSU Looking To Avenge Early Season Loss

JOPLIN, Mo. – Central Oklahoma continues a four-game road swing with a trip to Missouri Southern State Thursday night for an MIAA matchup inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

Central Oklahoma takes an 8-7 overall record into this weekend, with a 2-4 record in the MIAA. Missouri Southern is also 8-7 this season and is 3-3 in league play.

This is the second meeting of the season between the two schools. The Bronchos hosted the Lions on Dec. 8 and came up short in an 82-74 overtime battle. The loss for the Bronchos last month snapped a three-game winning streak to Missouri Southern. MSSU owns a 16-10 advantage in the all-time series that dates back to the 1973-74 season.

"It's always a good battle with these guys, they're a really good team and they're well coached," UCO head men's coach Bob Hoffman said. "It's hard to win on the road and it's hard to win in Joplin. We've been fortunate to do so, and we'll have a chance Thursday if we play our best."

Central Oklahoma looks to snap a two-game slide on Thursday. Following a four-game win streak, the Bronchos dropped league battles with Northeastern State and Arkansas Fort Smith last week and look to right the ship Thursday night.

UCO heads into the matchup averaging 81.5 points per game while the team shoots 45.9 percent from the floor. The Bronchos shoot 32.2 percent from behind the 3-point line and average 7.3 made threes per game. Central also shoots 69.5 percent at the free-throw line and averages 15.9 makes from the stripe per game.

Defensively, Central Oklahoma is allowing 72.4 points per game. Opponents shoot 42.1 percent from the floor overall, 31.7 percent from behind the 3-point line making 7.1 per game, and 72.8 percent from the free-throw line making 14.3 per game.

Israel Hart continues to lead UCO in scoring at 15.2 points per game. JV Seat (13.1), Jacobi Sebock (12.9), and Jordan Thompson (12.1) join him in double figures.

Hart shoots 40.4 percent from the floor and 83.3 percent from the free-throw line, leading UCO in free-throws made (55) and free-throws attempted (66). Seat has a team-high 26 made 3-pointers and shoots 35.6 percent from behind the arc.

Sebock is UCO's leading rebounder at 7.1 boards per game. He also shoots 51.3 percent from the floor. Thompson shoots 43.4 percent overall and leads the team with 4.3 assists per game and 2.3 steals per game.

Luke Haasl adds 8.5 points and 4.8 rebounds per game, to go along with 1.6 blocks per game. Matthew Willenborg scores 5.4 points per game, pulls down 5.3 rebounds per game, and rejects 1.7 shots per game. Willenborg and Haasl rank 1-2 in the MIAA in blocked shots.

Parker Hannah scores 6.9 points per game off the bench. The sophomore guard is second on the team with 23 made 3-pointers this season and shoots 33.3 percent from behind the arc.

Jarreth Ingram (4.3), Ben Averitt (2.5), Caiden Punt (2.0) help out as well. Preston Aymond, who returned from injury in the second semester, is averaging 1.8 points and 1.8 rebounds in 9.0 minutes per game.

Missouri Southern welcomes Central Oklahoma to Joplin Thursday night averaging 80.7 points per game. The Lions shoot 47.4 percent overall, 37.8 percent from behind the 3-point line with 9.3 makes per game, and 71.1 percent from the free-throw line with 12.0 makes per game.

MSSU is led by Martin Macenis, who scores 14.4 points per game. Tyrique Brooks (13.9), Jaden Taylor (10.9), and Tyriqe Jackson (10.4) all average double figures as well.

Central Oklahoma continues from Joplin Thursday night to Pittsburg State on Saturday afternoon. The Bronchos will play first in the MIAA doubleheader at 1:30 p.m. Saturday. The game will be regionally televised on 38 The Spot as the MIAA Game of the Week.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

#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

#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

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

#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

#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