Turning The Tables

2/16/2012 11:24:00 PM

Brent Friday

Box Score

EDMOND (Feb. 16) – What a difference a month makes.

Central Oklahoma jumped on top early and never trailed in toppling Lindenwood 68-56 Thursday night at Hamilton Field House to avenge a 30-point road loss to the Lions on Jan. 19.

The Bronchos won for the fifth straight time in improving to 14-10 and snapped LU's 11-game winning streak to make up for that 88-58 setback.

UCO put five players in double figures and used a swarming defensive effort to hold the Lions 32 points under their 88.0 per-game scoring average in handing them just their third loss of the season (24-3).

“I think our guys had something to prove after the game at their place and we really got after it on defense tonight,” head coach Terry Evans said. “We were patient on offense and just did a great job defending and playing hard.”

Brent Friday led UCO's balanced attack, hitting 7-of-9 shots to finish with 15 points. Josh Davis came off the bench to add 14 points, while Spencer Smith had 12.

Tyler Phillips had one of his best overall games of the season with 11 points, seven rebounds, a career-high five blocked shots and four assists, with Shane Carroll chipping in 10 points, a career high-tying nine boards and four assists.

The Bronchos limited the LU to 34.0-percent shooting (17-of-50) from the field while connecting on 52.9 percent (27-of-51) of their shots.

UCO never trailed after Smith drained a 3-pointer from the top of the key 22 seconds in and Friday followed an LU miss with a driving layup that made it 5-0 after a minute.

The Bronchos pushed their lead to 13-4 on a Phillips trey at the 15:17 mark before the Lions rallied to within one on several occasions, but UCO never lost the lead and went to the break with a 35-32 advantage.

That three-point lead quickly grew to nine to open the second half as Friday had a layup, Javvero Baker a mid-range jumper and Smith a slam dunk in traffic to make it 41-32.

It became a double-digit lead at 44-34 when Friday made one of two free throws with 15:03 left to play and the lead peaked at 16 (52-36) on Ronald Norfleet's layup off a Phillips assist at 10:39.

Lindenwood never got closer than 10 the rest of the way as the efficient Bronchos closed out the turnaround win.

UCO travels to Wichita Falls, Texas Saturday to face No. 7-ranked Midwestern State before returning home next Wednesday to end the season against Northeastern State.

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