Men's Basketball 10/30/2025 9:30:00 AM Chris Brannick

UCO Tips Off New Season Friday Night

Bronchos Play Simon Fraser In D2CCA Tipoff Classic In Canada

LANGLEY, British Columbia – Central Oklahoma opens the 2025-26 season Friday against Simon Fraser in the D2CCA Tipoff Classic.

Simon Fraser, of Burnaby, British Columbia, and an NCAA Division II member of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, is hosting the 12-team festival Friday, Oct. 31 through Sunday, Nov. 2 at the Langley Events Centre. Six men's programs and six women's programs will play three games each.

The Bronchos will play Simon Fraser Friday night, No. 18 Central Washington Saturday afternoon, and Western Washington just before noon Sunday. UCO is scheduled to tipoff at 8 p.m. local time, 10 p.m. Central, though it is the fifth game of the day.

Bob Hoffman enters his seventh season leading the UCO program and is 113-66 during that time. The Bronchos have won 99 games in the past four seasons, one MIAA title, and have made two trips to the NCAA tournament.

"We're excited to get the season started and grateful to be able to do it in this event," Hoffman said. "We've got a lot of things to get figured out, but the best way to do that is to get out and play. The guys we have back from last year are good on and off the court, and we hope our new guys will learn quick and give us the help we think they're capable of providing."

Central Oklahoma returns nine lettermen from last season's squad that went 19-13 and missed the national tournament by one shot in the conference championship. The Bronchos added 10 newcomers for one of the deepest teams in school history.

All-MIAA selection and senior forward Jacobi Sebock headlines the group. He scored 13.7 points per game last season and led the MIAA in rebounding at 7.7 boards per game. A Midwest City, Oklahoma native, Sebock also averaged 1.4 steals per game and 0.9 blocks per game while shooting 51.6 percent from the floor.

Junior Matthew Willenborg returns. Like Sebock, he played all 32 games last season and was a big player for the Bronchos. He averaged 4.9 points per game and 4.4 rebounds per game while leading the MIAA with 1.5 blocks per game. His 48 total blocks are the seventh most in a single season in UCO history.

Another junior, Parker Hannah, returns for his third season with the Bronchos. He averaged 6.2 points per game and made 40 3-pointers playing all 32 games last season and is expected to have a bigger role in year three. Ben Averitt, Chase Sucharda, Jack Robinson, , Connor Newton, and Trey Tuck are five other returners with experience ready to increase their roles as the new season starts.

Josh Nwankwo, Marcus Ziegler Jr., Jayden Garces, and Sebastian Perry are newcomers with experience, and Carter Roman Nose, Noah Eckels, and Brady Hancuff are newcomers ready to make their mark.

Simon Fraser went 9-19 last season and did not make its conference tournament with a 5-13 record in GNAC play. The Red Leafs return six letterman and are under the direction of a new head coach. Friday marks the first meeting between the schools.

Central Washington went 22-10 last season and 14-4 in the GNAC to win the league title. The Wildcats of Ellensburg, Washington were picked to win the league again in 2025-26 and return seven lettermen from last year's squad. In the only two previous meetings, UCO won 86-84 in 2012-13 and CWU won 82-81 in 2002-23. Both meetings were in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Western Washington went 19-10 last season and 11-7 in conference play to finish third in the GNAC. The Vikings from Bellingham, Washington were picked fourth in this year's GNAC Preseason Coaches' Poll. UCO is 0-2 against WWU with losses in 1999-2000 and 2012-13.

UCO will return home following Sunday's contest and the Bronchos will be off the following weekend before returning to play Nov. 14-15 in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Northeastern State is hosting a Central Region Challenge. UCO plays Minnesota Crookston and Arkansas Monticello in the event.

Central Oklahoma opens the doors to Hamilton Field House for the first time this season on Wednesday, Nov. 19 against Southwestern Oklahoma State.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

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

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

#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

#11 Noah Eckels: F; 6' 11"; Freshman

#23 Brady Hancuff: F; 6' 7"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

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

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

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

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

#11 Noah Eckels
: 6' 11"; Freshman
: F

#23 Brady Hancuff
: 6' 7"; Freshman
: F