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University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

The Official Site of Central Oklahoma University Athletics Central Oklahoma Athletics
Matthew Willenborg
Photo by Cadence Schrock [UCO Athletics]
59
Pittsburg St. PittSt 11-7,5-3 Mid-America Intercollegiate
69
Winner Central Okla. CentOK 12-8,5-3 Mid-America Intercollegiate
Pittsburg St. PittSt
11-7,5-3 Mid-America Intercollegiate
59
Final
69
Central Okla. CentOK
12-8,5-3 Mid-America Intercollegiate
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Pittsburg St. PittSt 32 27 59
Central Okla. CentOK 27 42 69

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Chris Brannick

Central Oklahoma Overpowers Pitt State In Edmond

Bronchos Run Away From Gorillas In Second Half For 10-Point Win

EDMOND – Central Oklahoma beat Pittsburg State 69-59 Saturday afternoon in the MIAA Game of the Week.
 
The Bronchos improved to 12-8 on the season with the win and are now 5-3 in the MIAA. The win put UCO in a six-team tie for second place in the league standings.
 
Central Oklahoma led for most of the first half before a late Pitt State rally made it 32-27 at halftime. Pitt led for nearly 10 minutes of the second half before the Bronchos got back in front. Then after a few ties, UCO went on a stifling 11-0 late in the game to put it away and get the crucial league win.
 
"The guys continue to just fight for it," UCO head men's basketball coach Bob Hoffman said. "Pitt is a really good team and we knew this was going to be tough. They got us at their place. But the guys just fought for it. Our defense was really good and we found a way to hit some big shots."
 
With the game tied 52-52 and under five minutes remaining, Matthew Willenborg made a pair of free-throws to give UCO the lead. Ben Averitt followed with a layup and Marcus Zeigler Jr. added a 3-pointer. Willenborg finished off the run with four free-throws over the next 40 seconds and UCO's 11-0 run gave the Bronchos a 63-52 lead with 1:31 remaining.
 
Central Oklahoma outscored Pitt State 17-7 in the final five minutes, going 2-for-3 from the floor and 12-for-15 at the line. With a stellar defensive effort, Pitt was just 3-for-10 from the floor, 1-for-6 from behind the 3-point line and also had one turnover.
 
Willenborg led UCO again on Saturday. The junior forward scored 31 points, pulled down 11 rebounds, and had four blocked shots. He was 9-for-18 from the line including 2 of 5 from 3-point range and was 11-for-12 at the free-throw line.  Willenborg played 39 of 40 minutes in the game.
 
Josh Nwankwo added 13 points and had four steals. Averitt scored 11 on 5 of 6 shooting including one 3-pointer. Zeigler finished with seven, Jack Robinson scored five, and Parker Hannah had two points in the win.
 
Central Oklahoma shot 43.4 percent from the floor making 23 of 53 total shots. The Bronchos hit 4 of 13 3-pointers and 19 of 23 free-throws.
 
UCO led 3-0 after an Averitt corner 3-pointer to start the game. It was 17-7 with just over 11 minutes to go in the first half. Pitt gained its first lead, 29-27, with just under three minutes to go until halftime and led 32-27 at the break.
 
Pitt led by seven twice in the second half before the Bronchos whittled it down midway through and took over the final 10 minutes.
 
Central Oklahoma wraps up a four-game homestand going 3-1 at Hamilton. The Bronchos are 7-1 at home this season. UCO will hit the road to face Nebraska Kearney and Fort Hays State next week. UCO returns home to face Newman and Emporia State on the final weekend in January.
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