UCO Men Have Few Home Games in 2011-12

8/3/2011 8:17:00 AM

Terry Evans

EDMOND (Aug. 3) – Scheduling a home game for 2011-12 was a tough chore for the Central Oklahoma men's basketball team, with the Bronchos slated to make just seven appearances at Hamilton Field House this winter.

UCO has two home games in November, one in December and two each in January and February while traveling to Arkansas, Kansas, Illinois, Missouri, Nevada and Texas for games, according to the scheduled released Wednesday.

The Bronchos return four starters from last year's 30-4 team that set a school record for wins, finished the season ranked fourth in NCAA Division II and made it to the Sweet 16 of the national tournament. UCO will be playing as an independent this season before the school joins the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association in 2012-13.

“It was hard coming up with a full schedule, let alone getting any home games,” said head coach Terry Evans, who is 193-79 and has led the Bronchos to seven Division II national tournament appearances in nine years at the helm. “We're going to be on the road a lot and have some longer breaks between games than you would like, but we'll make do and I think our players will respond to the challenge.”

Click here for the complete 2011-12 schedule.

The Bronchos play the bulk of their schedule in the first two months with 16 games in November and December and just 10 in January and February. UCO will participate in four classics and one true tournament while also meeting state and future MIAA rival Northeastern State four times.

Central will host an Alumni team to open a three-game exhibition schedule on Nov. 1 before going to Southern Nazarene on Nov. 4 and Science and Arts of Oklahoma on Nov. 9. The season officially starts Nov. 11-12 at the SWOSU Alumni Classic in Weatherford, with the home opener Nov. 15 against Southwestern Oklahoma.

Three returning Division II national tournament teams are on the slate – Arkansas Tech, Midwestern State and Tarleton State. The Bronchos will play ATU and MSU twice each, with the MSU games a rematch of last year's South Central Regional finals that was won by the Mustangs.

Print Friendly Version

Related Videos

Related Stories