Men's Basketball 11/13/2025 6:00:00 AM Chris Brannick

Central Oklahoma Plays Two In Tahlequah

Bronchos Meet Two New Foes In Central Region Challenge

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Central Oklahoma returns to the court this weekend with the Central Region Challenge at Northeastern State's Tahlequah Event Center where the Bronchos will play a pair of non-conference games.

UCO (1-2) will take on Minnesota Crookston Friday evening before a matchup with Arkansas Monticello on Saturday afternoon.

"We're eager to get back on the floor and to continue getting better," UCO head men's basketball coach Bob Hoffman said. "We are glad we had the chance to play a few games early but after a week off we're ready to get back out there. We have some work to do in figuring out who we are and how good we can be and we're ready to do that this weekend."

Central Oklahoma opened the season early at the D2CCA Canadian Tipoff Classic in Langley, British Columbia. The Bronchos beat Simon Fraser before falling to No. 18 Central Washington and Western Washington.

UCO scored 75 points in its lone win two weeks ago and is averaging 67.7 on the season after three games. The Bronchos shot 43.9 percent from the floor overall and just 22.5 percent from behind the 3-point line, going 9-for-40 from deep in Canada. UCO was also just 36-for-59 at the free-throw line in its first three games, a 61.0 percent mark.

The Bronchos did outrebound opponents, 35.7 to 32.3 per game, two weeks ago. And UCO forced more turnovers, 14.7 per game, to its 11.0 turnovers per outing in Canada.

Josh Nwankwo is UCO's leader in most categories after three games. The senior transfer is averaging 22.0 points per game to go with 7.3 rebounds per game. He averages 4.0 assists per game and 2.7 steals per game, all team highs. Nwankwo, who is from Oklahoma City, shot 52.3 percent from the floor two weeks ago, including 50.0 percent from behind the 3-point line.

Jacobi Sebock, who earned All-MIAA honors last season, is averaging 14.7 points and 6.3 rebounds per game through three games this season. He shot 55.2 percent from the floor and 85.7 percent from the free-throw line, making 12 of 14 shots from the stripe.

Matthew Willenborg enters this weekend averaging 9.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per game as well as a team-high 2.0 blocked shots. Marcus Zeigler Jr. averages 8.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game. And Parker Hannah averages 6.0 points per game with a team-high five made 3-pointers in three games.

UCO has never played either team it will see this weekend. The Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles went 5-23 last season including a 4-18 record in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. The Arkansas Monticello Boll Weevils went 4-24 last season including a 1-21 record in the Great American Conference.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

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

#2 Josh Nwankwo: F; 6' 6"; Senior

#5 Marcus Zeigler Jr.: G; 6' 1"; Junior

Players Mentioned

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

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

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

#2 Josh Nwankwo
: 6' 6"; Senior
: F

#5 Marcus Zeigler Jr.
: 6' 1"; Junior
: G