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University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

The Official Site of Central Oklahoma University Athletics Central Oklahoma Athletics
Matthew Willenborg
93
Northeastern St. NE 8-6,1-4 Mid-America Intercollegiate
97
Winner Central Okla. CentOK 10-7,3-2 Mid-America Intercollegiate
Northeastern St. NE
8-6,1-4 Mid-America Intercollegiate
93
Final
97
Central Okla. CentOK
10-7,3-2 Mid-America Intercollegiate
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 OT 1 F
Northeastern St. NE 25 51 17 93
Central Okla. CentOK 32 44 21 97

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Chris Brannick

Bronchos Outlast NSU In Overtime Battle

Central Oklahoma Wins 97-93 In Tough Midweek Matchup

EDMOND – Central Oklahoma outlasted Northeastern State in overtime in an MIAA rivalry slugfest 97-93 Wednesday night.
 
Central Oklahoma improved to 10-7 with the win and is now 3-2 in the MIAA. The Bronchos are back in action Saturday afternoon with No. 5 Arkansas Fort Smith coming to Hamilton Field House. UAFS is 13-1 and lost its first game of the year Wednesday night at Rogers State.
 
"That took everything we had and maybe more," UCO head men's basketball coach Bob Hoffman said. "I feel like we could've put the game away but we didn't, however, the guys kept fighting and found a way to get it done. It wasn't easy at all, it never is, but we found a way tonight."
 
Central Oklahoma got double digits from every starter, including a monster 37-point game for Matthew Willenborg, who added 10 rebounds, four blocks, four steals, and three assists. Marcus Zeigler Jr., who played 44 minutes, scored 16 points, dished out six assists, and had three rebounds and three steals. Parker Hannah put in 13 points, Jack Robinson scored 11, and Ben Averitt added 10.
 
A redshirt freshman and a true freshman were the only two off the bench on Wednesday. Trey Tuck scored seven points in 17 minutes and Brady Hancuff added three points in 12 mintues of action.
 
Central Oklahoma shot an even 50.0 percent from the floor, going 30-for-60. The Bronchos were 5-for-15 from behind the 3-point line and 32-for-46 from the free-throw line.
 
UCO led by as many as 14 points and had its largest lead with seven minutes remaining in regulation. NSU outscored the Bronchos 25-11 down the stretch, including 9-3 in the final 53 seconds, to force the extra period.
 
The visiting Riverhawks scored with eight seconds left to make it a two-point game, forced a turnover, and scored with four seconds remaining to tie it up. Zeigler missed a long 3-pointer as time expired.
 
The Bronchos jumped out to a seven-point lead in the first 90 seconds of overtime after scoring the first three baskets of the extra frame. Northeastern got it back to three points three times in the final 30 seconds, but couldn't get any closer as the Bronchos wrapped up the win.
 
Willenborg finished with a career-high 37 points on 12 of 24 shooting. He went 2-for-6 from deep and 11-for-12 at the free-throw line. Wednesday marked the eighth time this season the junior finished with a double-double.
 
Averitt pulled down eight rebounds and Robinson had five to go with four assists. Robinson and Willenborg hit two 3-pointers and Zeigler had the fifth. Hannah also went 9-for-11 at the three-throw line.
 
Central Oklahoma opened a four-game homestand with Wednesday night's contest. The Bronchos host No. 5 Arkansas Fort Smith Saturday at 3:30 p.m. UCO will also host Missouri Southern and Pittsburg State next week at Hamilton Field House.
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