Bronchos Cruise Past A&M-C

1/19/2011 11:12:57 PM

Tucker Phillips

Box Score

EDMOND (Jan. 19) – D.J. Lemons sparked a 3-point barrage that put Central Oklahoma in control midway through the first half and the No. 13-ranked Bronchos went on to throttle Lone Star Conference North Division rival Texas A&M-Commerce 85-69 Wednesday night at Hamilton Field House.

Lemons came off the bench to hit two outside bombs and Tyler Phillips added another long trey in a rapid-fire 9-0 run that turned a six-point lead (20-14) into a big 15-point advantage (29-14) at the 8:19 mark of the first half and UCO was never tested again in rolling to its seven straight win.

The three-time defending North Division champion Bronchos improved to 17-2 overall and 3-0 in the league with their 19th consecutive home victory while dropping the Lions to 11-5 and 1-1.

“It was sloppy at times, but we took care of business and beat a good team tonight,” UCO coach Terry Evans said. “We really did a good job moving the ball around and hitting some open shots, especially in the first half.”

The Bronchos shot 53.8 percent (7-of-13) from 3-point range in the opening 20 minutes in building a 46-29 lead before cooling off in the second half, finishing with 13 treys on 38.2-percent shooting (13-of-34). UCO committed just 12 turnovers, had assists on 20 of its 29 baskets and scored 25 points off 20 A&M-C turnovers.

Five players scored in double figures, though nobody had more than 15 points, and eight players made at least one 3-pointer.

All-American Dauntae Williams led the way with 15 points, seven assists and six rebounds, with Lemons and Tyler Phillips hitting three treys apiece in 11-point outings. Brent Friday and Tucker Phillips had 10 points apiece, with Phillips adding seven rebounds and two blocked shots.

A&M-C led 8-7 three minutes into the game before Friday put the Bronchos ahead to stay with a trey from the wing, just his second of the season. UCO went up by 10 at 20-10 on a June Carter jumper with 12:43 left, but the Lions came back with two quick buckets to pull within 20-14.

Lemons then started the 9-0 run with a 3-pointer from the corner, Tyler Phillips followed a quick A&M-C miss with a 22-footer from the top of the key and Lemons ended the 96-second spurt with another trey from the corner to push UCO's lead to 29-14.

The Bronchos took a 17-point cushion (46-29) into intermission, but A&M-C pulled within 10 at 47-37 early in the second half before Tony Ross scored four points in a 7-2 run that made it 54-39 and UCO cruised in from there.

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