Men's Basketball 2/4/2026 2:00:00 PM Chris Brannick

Central Oklahoma Travels To Northwest Missouri, Missouri Western

Bronchos Play Two On Road In MIAA This Weekend

MARYVILLE, Mo. – Central Oklahoma has a two-game road swing on tap for this weekend beginning Thursday night with Northwest Missouri. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. from Bearcat Arena.

UCO will also play at Missouri Western on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. The Bronchos are 14-10 this season with a 7-5 record in the MIAA. Northwest Missouri is 10-12 on the year and 3-8 in league play. Missouri Western is 14-8 overall and 6-5 in the MIAA.

"This is a tough weekend for us," UCO head men's basketball coach Bob Hoffman said. "Both of these teams I think are better than their records show. And it's always hard to win on the road. We have to be focused and locked in on our gameplan and we have to execute too."

The top nine teams in the MIAA include four teams with four losses and four teams with five losses in conference play, creating a log jam in the standings. The top 10 teams make the MIAA Basketball Championships March 4-8 in Kansas City, Missouri.

Central Oklahoma enters this week averaging 74.0 points per game shooting 45.8 percent from the floor. The Bronchos shoot 32.4 percent from behind the 3-point line and average 5.8 made 3-pointers per game. UCO shoots 73.0 percent from the free-throw line and averages 14.8 made free-throws per game.

Defensively, Central allows 67.5 points per game with opponents shooting 41.6 percent against the Bronchos. Teams shoot 32.6 percent from behind the 3-point line and average 6.9 made 3-pointers per game against the Bronchos. Opponents also shoot 72.5 percent from the free-throw line and average 11.8 made free-throws per game.

Matthew Willenborg leads the Bronchos in several categories, including scoring at 20.7 points per game. He leads UCO in rebounding too at 9.2 boards per game, and blocked shots at 3.0 rejections per contest. Willenborg has the most field goals made (183), field goals attempted (363), 3-pointers made (42), 3-pointers attempted (123), free-throws made (89), and free-throws attempted (106).

Josh Nwankwo adds 18.5 points per game, 5.4 rebounds per game, 3.5 assists per game, and 2.4 steals per game. The senior guard missed six games this season due to injury but has scored in double figures in 16 of 18 games played. He has at least 20 points in seven games this season.

Marcus Zeigler Jr. adds 9.2 points, 3.6 assists, and a 1.6 steals per game. Parker Hannah chips in 8.8 points per game and is Central's top 3-point shooter at 34.3 percent. Ben Averitt adds 6.0 points and 3.2 rebounds while Jack Robinson chips in 4.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game.

Northwest is averaging 70.5 points per game while conceding 74.5 per contest. Northwest shoots 43.0 percent overall, 32.7 percent from 3-point range with 7.7 makes per game, and 72.8 percent at the free-throw line with an average of 12.4 makes per game.

Northwest Missouri owns a 19-6 advantage in the all-time series with Central Oklahoma. The Bronchos won two in a row in 2022 and 2023, and another in 2025. UCO is 2-6 in Maryville.

Central Oklahoma continues from Northwest Missouri to Missouri Western on Saturday afternoon. The Bronchos are home for the next three games, with one next week against Rogers State and two the following week against No. 1 Washburn and Central 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