Men's Basketball 10/27/2025 8:00:00 AM Chris Brannick

Broncho Basketball Returns Early And Eager

Central Oklahoma Opens 2025-26 Season This Weekend In Canada

Central Oklahoma was one bucket away from a third trip to the national tournament in four seasons and the Bronchos return in 2025-26 eager to contend once again. Bob Hoffman enters his seventh season leading the UCO men's basketball program and with more than 700 wins in 40-plus seasons of coaching, he is excited about the possibilities of the season that starts Friday in Canada.

"We have a good mix of returners that have played and started in some big games for us, and newcomers with a lot of talent that could help us in a big way," Hoffman said. "We have a chance this year if we execute every night. We have talent at every position so if we stay focused and play to our ability, we'll have a chance.

"We have some big games early that will test us," Hoffman continued. "Our non-conference schedule is tough and the MIAA is always a battle. I think that helps us when you get into March to have a chance to win. We were one shot away from the national tournament last season and I hope we have a chance to be in that spot again this season."

Central Oklahoma went 19-13 last season, narrowly missing a fourth consecutive 20-win season. The 20th win could have been the MIAA Basketball Championship. Junior Matthew Willenborg missed a 3-pointer with three seconds remaining in the league's postseason tournament final and UCO lost 72-71. The title would've given the Bronchos the league's automatic qualifier to the national tournament.

Hoffman led UCO to the MIAA regular season title in 2022 and a national tournament appearance. The Bronchos returned to the national tournament in 2023.

Willenborg leads a group of 10 returning lettermen to this year's squad. He led the MIAA in blocks per game (1.5) last season and averaged 4.9 points and 4.4 rebounds per game in 32 appearances. All but two of those were off the bench. Willenborg is a starter now in his third season with the program and the former Norman High standout is expected to have a big season this winter.

Jacobi Sebock highlights the returners after playing in and starting all 32 games last season – his first with the Bronchos. The former Midwest City standout earned All-MIAA honors after averaging 13.7 points per game and a team-high and league-high 7.7 rebounds per game. Sebock's 246 rebounds were more than any player in the MIAA. He shot 51.6 percent from the floor on the season.

Another returner for the Bronchos is JV Seat, and Edmond native that played in and started all 32 games last season. He made a team-high 59 3-pointers and averaged 13.3 points per game. Parker Hannah, from Keller, Texas, played in all 32 games and made 40 3-pointers on the season, helping the Broncho squad that made 7.5 shots from behind the arc per game last season.

Five more returners that played under 10 minutes per game are back and expected to contribute again. Senior Ben Averitt has played 62 games in three seasons, missing all but four games of his sophomore season in 2023-24 with a knee injury. Jarreth Ingram has played in 54 games in two seasons. Both have averaged around two points and two rebounds per game with the ability to come off the bench and put up big numbers at any moment.

Junior Connor Newton, and sophomores Chase Sucharda and Jack Robinson return after playing reserve roles for the Bronchos last season. Redshirt freshman Trey Tuck is also back after sitting out his first year.

Hoffman will look to some newcomers to contribute right away, and some to develop into the program and be ready when called.

Josh Nwankwo is a fifth-year senior that played 30 games for Central Missouri last season, averaging 8.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game. He made 23 starts. He suffered a season-ending injury in the first game of the 2023-24 season at UCM and spent two seasons prior at New Mexico Junior College (2022-23) and Dodge City Community College (2021-22).

Marcus Zeigler Jr. and Jayden Garces are juniors and also expected to contribute for the Bronchos. Zeigler comes to Edmond from Cowley College in Kansas. He won a state title at Wichita Heights and led the Tigers to a 58-11 record in two seasons with two trips to the national tournament, including a national quarterfinals appearance last season. Garces comes to Edmond from Grayson College. He made 47 starts in 59 games played over two seasons there.

Sebastian Perry is also a transfer for the Bronchos. The former Heritage Hall standout in Oklahoma City comes to UCO from Nebraska Omaha. He sat out a redshirt season in 2023-24 and played in nine games in 2024-25, including the first round of the NCAA Tournament against No. 2 seed St. John's.

Five freshmen round out the group of newcomers that is nearly equal to the group of returners in numbers. Carter Roman Nose from El Reno was the Class 5A Player of the Year. Noah Eckels is a 6-11 forward from Colorado Springs that is going to be a competitive rebounder in the MIAA. Levi Kelly won four state championships at Dale High School. Brady Hancuff is a 6-7 forward from Edmond Memorial and a competitive player on the floor. Hudson Greer is a 6-9 forward from Oklahoma Christian Academy and also competitive in the group of young players fighting for a chance with the Bronchos.

Central Oklahoma opens the 2025-26 season at the D2CCA Tipoff Classic in Langley, British Columbia. The Bronchos will play host Simon Fraser Oct. 31, Central Washington Nov. 1, and Western Washington Nov. 2 in the classic. UCO travels to Tahlequah, Oklahoma for the Central Region Challenge two weeks later to play Minnesota Crookston (Nov. 14) and Arkansas Monticello (Nov. 15). The Bronchos make their home debut Nov. 19 against Southwestern Oklahoma State.

Central Oklahoma has 12 non-conference games, with four in Edmond. UCO will also play in the River City Classic in San Antonio Dec. 16-17. Central's 19-game MIAA schedule begins Dec. 4 & 6 with a trip to Pittsburg State and Missouri Southern. The Bronchos have nine MIAA home games.

The 2026 MIAA Basketball Championship is scheduled for March 4-8 in Kansas City, Mo.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

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

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

#15 Jack Robinson: G; 6' 1"; Sophomore

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

#4 Jacobi Sebock: F; 6' 7"; Senior

#10 Chase Sucharda: G; 6' 3"; Sophomore

#24 Trey Tuck: G; 6' 2"; Redshirt Freshman

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

Players Mentioned

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

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

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

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

#15 Jack Robinson
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: G

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

#4 Jacobi Sebock
: 6' 7"; Senior
: F

#10 Chase Sucharda
: 6' 3"; Sophomore
: G

#24 Trey Tuck
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Freshman
: G

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