Men's Basketball 1/27/2026 2:00:00 PM Chris Brannick

Central Oklahoma Hosts Newman In Return Home

Bronchos Back At Hamilton For Two MIAA Games This Week In Edmond

EDMOND – Central Oklahoma closes out the month of January with a pair of MIAA home games at Hamilton Field House this week.

Up first is Newman Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. The Bronchos will also host Emporia State on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.

Central Oklahoma is 12-10 on the season with a 5-5 record in the MIAA. The Bronchos are aiming to bounce back after back-to-back losses last week. UCO is 4-3 in the month of January.

Newman is 5-14 on the season and is 1-9 in league play. The Jets from Wichita, Kansas have lost 10 in a row. Emporia is 7-12 on the season and 3-7 in the MIAA. The Hornets play at Rogers State Thursday night before coming to Edmond on Saturday.

Through 22 games this season, Central Oklahoma is averaging 74.2 points per game. The Bronchos shoot 45.8 percent as a team including a 32.3 percent-rate from behind the 3-point line. UCO shoots 73.0 percent at the free-throw line and averages 15.1 makes per game there.

Defensively, Central Oklahoma is allowing 68.1 points per game. Opponents shoot 42.2 percent overall, 32.9 percent from behind the arc, and 73.0 percent at the line.

Matthew Willenborg leads UCO in scoring, rebounding, and blocked shots. The junior forward averages 20.8 points per game, 9.3 rebounds per game, and 3.0 blocks per game. All are top marks in the MIAA as well. Willenborg is a 50.1 percent shooter too, making 33.9 of his 3-point attempts. He has an 84.0 percent rate at the free-throw line.

Josh Nwankwo is back in stride after missing six games in the middle of the season. He is averaging 18.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2.6 steals per game. Last week, he averaged 28.0 points per game.

Marcus Zeigler Jr. adds 9.5 points, 3.7 assists, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game. Parker Hannah scores 8.5 points per game. Ben Averitt chips in 5.9 points and 3.1 rebounds. And Jack Robinson gives UCO 5.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game.

Central Oklahoma owns a 14-2 advantage in the all-time series with Newman dating back to the 1980s. Newman won the inaugural meeting in 1982-83 and the Bronchos won in 1985-86. UCO also beat Newman in the 1999-2000 season. Since Newman joined the MIAA in 2019-20, the Bronchos are 12-1 in the series. Newman's lone win came in Wichita in 2020. The Bronchos have won the last 10, including an 89-72 victory in Wichita three weeks ago.

UCO wraps up its January schedule with two home games this week. The Bronchos will play 4 of 7 February contests on the road as Central looks to clinch a spot in the MIAA Basketball Championship March 4-8 in Kansas City, Missouri.

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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

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

#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

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

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

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