Men's Basketball 1/16/2026 10:00:00 AM Chris Brannick

UCO Hosts Pitt In MIAA Game of the Week

Central Oklahoma and Pittsburg State Live On 38 The Spot Saturday In Edmond

EDMOND – Central Oklahoma hosts Pittsburg State Saturday at 1:30 p.m. inside Hamilton Field House in the MIAA Game of the Week live on 38 the Spot in the Kansas City television market.

UCO is 11-8 this season and looking to bounce back from a midweek loss to Missouri Southern. The Bronchos are 4-3 in the MIAA. Pitt State is 11-6 overall and also looking to bounce back from a midweek loss at Rogers State. The Gorillas from Pittsburg, Kansas are 5-2 in the MIAA.

"We need to be focused on doing what we do and working together to accomplish our goal," UCO head men's basketball coach Bob Hoffman said. "Every game is big, but this one is big for sure. You can't go 0-2 on any week in this league. That's hard to do, but we have to find a way to get it done."

Central Oklahoma and Pittsburg State played three times last season, with the road team winning the two regular season meetings before UCO knocked Pitt out of the MIAA Basketball Championship in the semifinals. The two also played last month in Pittsburg and PSU won 77-63. The all-time series dates back to 1938 and UCO leads 22-19.

Central Oklahoma enters this weekend's game averaging 75.7 points per game and outscores opponents with a plus 7.3 scoring margin. The Bronchos shoot 46.6 percent overall, 33.9 percent from behind the 3-point line, and 71.3 percent from the free-throw line. UCO averages 6.0 made 3-pointers per game and 14.9 made free-throws per game.

Central is led by Matthew Willenborg, who was named MIAA Men's Basketball Athlete of the Week and NABC Division II Player of the Week earlier this week. The junior forward was also named to the Bevo Francis Award Top 100 Watchlist for Small College Basketball's player of the year. Willenborg leads the MIAA in scoring, rebounding, and blocks this season.

In 19 games played, Willenborg is averaging 20.9 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3.2 blocks, and 1.5 steals per game. He shoots 51.9 percent overall, 36.6 percent from three, and 82.1 percent at the free-throw line.

The Bronchos got their second leading scorer, Josh Nwankwo, back earlier this week after missing six games due to injury. Nwankwo averages 17.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2.2 steals per game this season in 13 games played.

Marcus Zeigler Jr. is now up to double digits scoring. He averages 10.2 points per game and leads the team with 3.8 assists per game. He also takes 1.7 steals per contest. Zeigler is averaging 14.5 points per game in four games in 2026.

Parker Hannah is close to double figures. The junior guard averages 9.4 points per game. Hannah is averaging 17.2 points per game in 2026.

Central Oklahoma also gets offensive production from Jack Robinson (5.8 PPG), Ben Averitt (5.3), Brady Hancuff (3.0), and Trey Tuck (2.3). Robinson is also averaging 3.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game.

Pittsburg State comes to Edmond averaging 79.4 points per game and the Gorillas shoot 46.6 percent as a team. PSU shoots 36.2 percent from behind the 3-point line with an average of 8.5 makes per game. The Gorillas shoot 76.4 percent from the free-throw line and average 13.7 makes per game.

Connor Rogers is Pitt's leading scorer at 20.1 points per game. He was also listed on the Bevo Francis Award Top 100 Watchlist along with Willenborg. Mason English averages 13.3 points per game and Ethan Sage averages 11.6 with a team-high 7.0 rebounds per game.

The MIAA and 38 The Spot began airing games of the week live in the Kansas City television market last season. UCO played in two of those and went 2-0, beating Pitt State 84-78 in Pittsburg and also winning 92-60 over Missouri Western in Edmond.

Central Oklahoma returns to the road next week with games at Nebraska Kearney and Fort Hays State. The Bronchos will be home again to close out the month of January with contests against Newman and Emporia State.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Players Mentioned

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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