Men's Basketball 1/9/2026 12:00:00 PM Chris Brannick

Central Hosts No. 5 Fort Smith

Bronchos Look To Continue Win Streak At Hamilton

EDMOND – Central Oklahoma hosts No. 5 Arkansas Fort Smith Saturday afternoon in the second of four straight home games for the Bronchos. Tipoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.

UCO is 10-7 this season and looks to extend its winning streak to four with this weekend's contest. The Bronchos are 3-2 in the MIAA. Fort Smith is 13-1 overall and 4-1 in league play. The Lions started the season 13-0 and catapulted up to No. 5 in the country in the latest NABC Top 25. UAFS dropped its midweek matchup at Rogers State on Wednesday for its first loss of the season.

Central Oklahoma enters this week's games averaging 74.8 points per game with a 46.7 shooting percentage through 17 games played. The Bronchos shoot 32.5 percent from behind the 3-point line with an average of 5.6 makes per game. UCO also shoots 69.6 percent from the free-throw line with an average of 13.9 made free-throws per game.

Matthew Willenborg leads UCO in most categories and is coming off a career-high 37 points on Wednesday night. The junior forward averages 20.8 points per game, 9.2 rebounds per game, and 3.0 blocks per game - all team highs. He shoots 52.7 percent overall and 37.8 percent from three with a 81.5 percent free-throw rate. Willenborg's 135 made baskets and 30 made 3-pointers both lead the team. His 53 made free-throws are also a team high.

Josh Nwankwo, who has missed the last five games due to injury, is averaging 18.8 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. His 81 made baskets are second to Willenborg. He also averages 2.3 steals to lead the defense.

Marcus Zeigler Jr. (9.5 PPG) and Parker Hannah (8.7) also lead the offense. Zeigler leads UCO with 66 assists, 3.9 per game, and Hannah's 24 made 3-pointers are second to Willenborg.

The Bronchos are also getting 5.5 points per game out of sophomore Jack Robinson and 4.7 from senior Ben Averitt.

Arkansas Fort Smith averages 84.7 points per game heading into Saturday's matchup. The Lions shoot 45.6 percent overall, 38.4 percent from behind the 3-point line, and 73.8 percent from the free-throw line. UAFS makes 9.9 threes per game and 14.7 free-throws per contest.

Central Oklahoma and Arkansas Fort Smith have only played four times on the hardwood, twice as non-conference foes in the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons, and twice last season when UAFS joined the MIAA. The Bronchos won the two non-cons and the Lions won both league matchups last season.

UCO will play two more at home next week, hosting Missouri Southern Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. and Pittsburg State next Saturday at 1:30 p.m. The game will be aired live on 38 The Spot in Kansas City as the MIAA Game of the Week.

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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