Skip To Main Content

University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

The Official Site of Central Oklahoma University Athletics Central Oklahoma Athletics
Brady Hancuff
64
Emporia St. ESU 7-14,3-9 Mid-America Intercollegiate
70
Winner Central Okla. CentOK 14-10,7-5 Mid-America Intercollegiate
Emporia St. ESU
7-14,3-9 Mid-America Intercollegiate
64
Final
70
Central Okla. CentOK
14-10,7-5 Mid-America Intercollegiate
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Emporia St. ESU 24 40 64
Central Okla. CentOK 37 33 70

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Chris Brannick

Bronchos Overpower Emporia In Edmond

Central Oklahoma Never Trails In 70-64 MIAA Victory Saturday In Edmond

EDMOND – Central Oklahoma never trailed in a gritty 70-64 MIAA victory over Emporia State Saturday afternoon at Hamilton Field House.
 
The Bronchos improved to 14-10 on the year with the win and are 7-5 in league play and head into February one game out of second place in the league standings. UCO plays seven games in the final month, four on the road and three in Edmond, where Central is 9-1 this season.
 
Matthew Willenborg's 21 points led Central Oklahoma, while Josh Nwankwo (16), Marcus Zeigler Jr. (12), and Parker Hannah (11) all scored in double figures.
 
Central Oklahoma shot 41.1 percent overall and just 24.0 percent from behind the 3-point line going 6-for-25 from deep. The Bronchos were 18-for-23 at the free-throw line.
 
UCO's defense kept the Bronchos in front all day. Emporia State shot 33.3 percent overall and 35.0 percent from behind the 3-point line. ESU's free-throws (13-for-21) proved critical.
 
Early in the game Saturday it was tied 2-2 and 4-4 but an 8-2 run turned into 14-4 and the Bronchos led 18-8 with 13 minutes remaining in the first half. The Bronchos never trailed. UCO would finish the half on a 9-2 run to take a 37-24 lead into the break.
 
Emporia didn't go quietly. The UCO lead was cut to three points with eight minutes to play and was down to two points, 53-51, with 6:50 remaining. Nwankwo went on a personal 6-0 run after that to put the control back in the hands of the Bronchos.
 
Central Oklahoma held firm to its lead down the stretch and earned the win.
 
Willenborg led the way going 7-for-15 from the floor including a 4-for-10 performance from behind the 3-point line. He also made 3 of 4 free-throws. Nwankwo filled up the stat sheet with 16 points, nine rebounds and six assists. He made one 3-pointer and all five of his free-throws.
 
Zeigler added five rebounds to his 12 points and Hannah also made a 3-pointer and 4 of 5 free-throws. Ben Averitt added four points and three rebounds. Brady Hancuff scored six points off the bench. The freshman made the only shot he took and all four of his free-throws. Hancuff also had six boards and one assist.
 
Central Oklahoma plays Northwest Missouri and Missouri Western this week on the road. The Bronchos will host three games at Hamilton Field House against Rogers State, Washburn, and Central Missouri over the middle two weeks in February and finishes the regular season with two more road games at Northeastern State and Arkansas Fort Smith.
 
The 2026 MIAA Basketball Championship is scheduled for March 4-8 in Kansas City, Missouri. The Bronchos have played in finals twice in the last three years.
Print Friendly Version
Skip Ad
Skip Sponsors