Men's Basketball 3/7/2025 1:52:00 PM Chris Brannick

Central Oklahoma To Meet Pitt State In MIAA Basketball Semifinals

UCO Playing In Seventh MIAA Semifinal Looking To Reach Third Championship Game

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Central Oklahoma is set to play in the 2025 MIAA Basketball Championship semifinals Saturday at 12 p.m. inside historic Municipal Auditorium and learned Friday its opponent will be Pittsburg State.

Central Oklahoma earned the No. 8 seed in the MIAA Basketball Championship and beat No. 9 seed Emporia State in the first round on Wednesday at noon. The Bronchos advanced to the quarterfinals, where UCO beat No. 1 seed Washburn to advance to the semifinals. UCO is 2-4 in the semifinals, aiming to earn a third berth in the championship game, and cut down the nets in Kansas City for the first time.

Pittsburg State is the No. 4 seed in the tournament and beat No. 5 seed Nebraska Kearney on Friday afternoon. This season, UCO and Pitt State split the regular season series, 1-1, with the road team winning both games. Pitt won in Edmond in December and UCO paid them back with a win in Pittsburg, Kansas in January.

"Pittsburg State is going to be a tough out," UCO head men's basketball coach Bob Hoffman said. "They always are. They're a well-coached team. We've played really well the first two games here in Kansas City, and we got a day off to rest, so we're in a good spot. But we're going to have to work for it. We're going to have to play at a high level for all 40 minutes."

THE BRONCHOS IN KANSAS CITY

Central Oklahoma joined the MIAA in 2012-13 and has made the conference tournament in 12 of 13 seasons since. UCO made each of the first six and has made six straight since Hoffman took over in 2019. The Bronchos are 15-11 all-time in the tournament, 6-1 in the first round, 7-4 in the quarterfinals, 2-4 in the semis, and 0-2 in the championship game.

UCO-PITT FLASHBACK

Central Oklahoma and Pittsburg State have met only once in the MIAA Basketball Championship, in last year's quarterfinals. The Bronchos were the No. 6 seed a year ago and lost 84-60 to No. 3 seed Pitt State.

In December of this season, the first conference game of the year, Pitt got a 79-76 win in Edmond. UCO took a 76-75 lead with 1:51 to play before Pitt got in front in the final 90 seconds. Seat missed a layup with 51 seconds remaining, and after getting a stop on the other end, Jordan Thompson and Israel Hart both missed 3-point attempts to tie the game in the final 15 seconds.

In January in Pittsburg, UCO led for the final five minutes of the first half and all 20 minutes in the second half as the Bronchos came away with an 84-78 win. UCO led by as many as 12 points in the game.

HIGH-SCORING HOOPS

Central Oklahoma averages 80.5 points per game through 30 games played this season. The Bronchos are the second-highest scoring program in the MIAA. UCO averages a plus-7.9 scoring margin, which is also the second-best mark in the MIAA.

Hart leads the team in scoring at 16.5 points per game. The senior guard scored 27 in UCO's postseason opener against Emporia State, then added 25 in the upset of Washburn. Jacobi Sebock averages 13.5 points per game and is the league's leading rebounder at 7.8 boards per game. JV Seat, who scored 31 in the upset of Washburn on Thursday, averages 13.1 points per game. Jordan Thompson gives UCO four in double figures at 10.7 points per game.

THE 'CHOS ARE HOT

Central Oklahoma shot 60 percent from the floor in its win Thursday over No. 1 seed Washburn. The Bronchos have hit that mark three times this season. UCO shot 47.2 percent Wednesday in its win over No. 9 seed Emporia State. The Bronchos shot 46.1 percent from the floor on average this season, and are 12-1 in games when it shoots at least that mark.

DO IT WITH DEFENSE

Central Oklahoma's defense is one of the best in the MIAA. The Bronchos hold opponents to 72.6 points per game. UCO leads the MIAA in blocked shots (140) and blocks per game (4.6), and steals (297) and steals per game (9.9).

Matthew Willenborg, who rejected six shots on Thursday against Washburn, leads the MIAA with 46 blocks this season. His 1.5 average is best in the league. Luke Haasl has 39 blocked shots, 1.4 per game, and is second in the league.

Thompson ranks second in the MIAA in steals at 2.2 per game. His 67 total steals are tied for first. Hart is third in the league rankings with 63 steals, also 2.2 per game.

UP NEXT

Central Oklahoma and Pittsburg State are meeting in one semifinal. No. 2 seed Fort Hays State will play the winner of No. 3 seed Rogers State vs. No. 6 seed Missouri Western, which play later Friday.

The 2025 MIAA Basketball Championship game is scheduled for Sunday, March 9 at 1 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

#11 Luke Haasl: F; 6' 10"; Senior

#0 Israel Hart: G; 6' 3"; Senior

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

#2 Jordan Thompson: G; 6' 0"; Senior

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

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

Players Mentioned

#11 Luke Haasl
: 6' 10"; Senior
: F

#0 Israel Hart
: 6' 3"; Senior
: G

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

#2 Jordan Thompson
: 6' 0"; Senior
: G

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

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