Game Statistics
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (Nov. 21) – Missouri Western had miserable success at the free throw line most of the game, but the Griffons made four big foul shots when it counted to hand No. 17-ranked Central Oklahoma an 83-79 setback here Saturday night on the final day of the Hillyard Classic.
MWSU, which finished just 11-of-24 from the charity stripe, got two free throws from Nolan Martin with12 seconds remaining to break a 79-all tie and UCO's Eric Cazenave was off target on a go-ahead 3-point try at 0:03. The Griffons pulled down the rebound and added two more free throws with one second left to arrange the final margin.
“We had our chances to and just didn't get it done,” said UCO coach Terry Evans, whose team fell to 1-2. “It's a disappointing loss, but we just have to put it behind us and get ready for another tough game Monday.”
The Bronchos continue their road swing Monday with their third game in four nights, going to Emporia, Kan. to take on Emporia State.
UCO led by 11 (53-42) early in the second half, but the Griffons rallied to take a 78-74 lead with less than a minute remaining before the Bronchos rebounded to tie it.
Shane Carroll drilled a 3-point at 0:39 to pull UCO within 78-77, MWSU made 1-of-2 free throws at 0:34 to make it 79-77 and the Bronchos tied it with 16 seconds to play on Chris Rhymes' layup off a Carroll assist.
UCO was then whistled for a foul at 0:12 and Martin made the tie-breaking free throws.
Rhymes hit 10-of-12 shots and scored a team-high 22 points while adding seven rebounds to pace the Bronchos. Carroll was 4-of-6 from beyond the arc in a 15-point outing and Dauntae Williams had 14 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.
UCO jumped out to a 7-0 lead just two minutes into the contest, but the Griffons rebounded quickly with a 12-0 run and it was back-and-forth the rest of the half before MWSU hit a last-second layup to arrange a 42-42 stalemate at intermission.
The Bronchos opened the second half with an 11-0 scoring spurt, getting 3-pointers from Carroll and Williams and five points from Rhymes to go on top 53-42 with 17:17 to play. UCO had a six-point lead at 69-63 with 7:39 left after two Williams free throws, but the Griffons used a 10-0 run to take a 73-69 lead and set up the wild finish.
