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University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

The Official Site of Central Oklahoma University Athletics Central Oklahoma Athletics
Marcus Zeigler Jr.
62
Winner Central Okla. CentOK 17-15,9-10 Mid-America Intercollegiate
53
Pittsburg St. PittSt 15-15,9-10 Mid-America Intercollegiate
Winner
Central Okla. CentOK
17-15,9-10 Mid-America Intercollegiate
62
Final
53
Pittsburg St. PittSt
15-15,9-10 Mid-America Intercollegiate
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Central Okla. CentOK 22 40 62
Pittsburg St. PittSt 16 37 53

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Chris Brannick

UCO Advances After Eliminating Pitt State

Bronchos Will Play Top-Seed Washburn Thursday Night In MIAA Basketball Championship Quarterfinals

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Central Oklahoma never trailed in a 62-53 win over Pittsburg State Wednesday night in the first round of the MIAA Basketball Championship at Municipal Auditorium.
 
The Bronchos advance to the quarterfinals with the win and will play No. 1 seed Washburn Thursday at 6 p.m.
 
"This game was a lot like our season this year, we just had to fight for everything," UCO head men's basketball coach Bob Hoffman said. "I think we could have had a bigger lead but we weren't playing our best and the guys made a decision that they weren't ready to go home. They found a way and got it done. Really proud of them."
 
UCO shot 44.0 percent in the game and just 17.6 percent from 3-point range. The Bronchos were 15-for-20 at the free-throw line and all of those attempts came in the second half.
 
Matthew Willenborg led the way with 21 points and nine rebounds. He added three steals, two blocks, and two assists. The junior First Team All-MIAA selection was 7-for-16 from the floor, 0-for-4 from deep, and 7-for-8 at the free-throw line.
 
Marcus Zeigler Jr. added 16 points. He was Central's best shooter in the game, making 6 of 8 shots including a pair of threes. Zeigler was also 2-for-2 at the line and added six rebounds, two steals and one assist.
 
Josh Nwankwo made it three in double figures with 11 points. The senior Third Team All-MIAA pick was 3-for-11 from the floor, 1-for-5 from deep, and 4-for-6 at the line. He also added six rebounds, two assists, and one steal.
 
The Bronchos also got eight points from Parker Hannah and six from Brady Hancuff.
 
Central Oklahoma jumped out to a big lead early. The Bronchos were up 10-3 when Willenborg scored with 12:05 remaining in the opening half. It was a 10-point game with 7:02 remaining when Hannah stole the ball and put in a fastbreak layup to make it 17-7.
 
UCO led by 10 again with 4:23 remaining in the first half and took a 22-16 lead into halftime.
 
The Bronchos stretched their lead to 16 points in the second half, taking a 46-30 lead with 7:45 to play in the game. Pitt had a rally in store, cutting the lelad all the way down to five points, 56-51, with 54 seconds remaining. But it would be too little too late for the Gorillas.
 
Central Oklahoma knocked Pitt State out of the MIAA Basketball Championship for the second consecutive season after beating the Gorillas in the semifinals last year. UCO will try to do the same to top-seed Washburn, who the Bronchos bested in last year's quarterfinals.
 
 
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