Friday, December 5, 1997

ACU 99, University of Central Oklahoma 74

By BILL HART / Abilene Reporter-News

University of Central Oklahoma coach Jim Seward had never been involved in a game like the one his Bronchos played Thursday night at Moody Coliseum.

And Abilene Christian University has never played against the Bronchos like they did in their 99-74 victory, their seventh straight of the season in what has to be a confidence builder for the Wildcats.

ACU's previous margin of victory over the Bronchos was 17 points (103-86) in 1988 and it was only the 10th win in 27 tries over the Oklahoma powerhouse.

The Wildcats came out on fire and after Devin Baker scored the first basket of the game for UCO's only lead, ACU rattled off the next nine points and were never seriously challenged.

In fact, ACU held a 48-11 lead with four minutes left in the first half and this UCO team came into the contest averaging 101 points a game. It was 52-22 at halftime and at that point, UCO had committed 20 turnovers. They had 10 in the second half.

"I have never been involved in anything like this, I am embarrassed for our program," Seward said. "We were totally non-existent and did things we have never done before. ACU had a lot to do with it, they are a fine team."

ACU gave UCO a lesson in 3-point shooting in the first half, and it is usually the other way around when these two play. The Wildcats made 7 of 14 to only 2 of 10 for the Bronchos although ACU wound up hitting 14 of 26 to 7 of 20 for UCO.

The widest lead was 72-32 with with 13 minutes to play, but despite ACU committing numerous turnovers and fouls, UCO never got closer than 25 points.

"Bronsha Miles came out and hit two quick baskets and that set the tone for the game," ACU coach Shanon Hays said. "We wanted to make an early impression that we were going to be the aggressor and it showed. We did a good job of not letting them get many seconds shots and that was a big factor.

"We played a lot of different rotations in the second half and that affected our shooting, but we wanted to give all our players valuable time. That first half was the best that we have played since I came here (last year). I expected the game to be close, that it would go back and forth. I didn't expect this."

Joe Joe Edwards led five Wildcats in double figures with 20 points and Chaz Jackson backed him up with 16, thanks to 4-of-7 shooting from 3-point range.

Joe Newton led the Bronchos, now 5-3, with 22 points, 19 coming in the second half, Patrick Fisher had 15 and David Factor 14.

Men

CENTRAL OKLAHOMA (74) -- Patrick Fisher 5-11 2-2 15, David Factor 4-6 4-8 14, Joe Newton 7-20 6-7 22, Eddie Robinson 3-9 0-0 6, Devin Baker 3-6 3-7 9, Shawn Pughsley 1-9 2-2 4, Jason Stewart 1-1 0-0 2, Damian Bennett 0-1 2-2 2, Brandon Burns 0-1 0-0 0, Rahsaan Johnson 0-1 0-0 0, Totals 24-65 19-28 74.

ABILENE CHRISTIAN (99) -- Joseph Golding 1-5 0-0 3, Bronsha Miles 5-12 0-0 12, Lawrence Gardiner 5-8 0-0 10, Robert Hamilton 2-8 0-0 4, Broderick Bobb 2-2 2-4 6, Kenric White 0-0 0-0 0, Brent Wilson 0-0 0-0 0, Joe Joe Edwards 7-14 0-0 20, Jared Mosley 4-13 1-2 9, Charles Jackson 6-9 0-0 16, Anthony Roach 1-2 0-0 2, Samuel Maroney 2-5 0-0 5, Michael Obudho 6-10 0-0 12, Totals 41-88 3-6 99.

Halftime -- N/A. 3-point goals -- UCO 7-20 (Fisher 3-6, Factor 2-2, Newton 2-7, Robinson 0-1, Pughsley 0-4); ACU 14-26 (Golding 1-4, Miles 2-3, Hamilton 0-1, Edwards 6-8, Mosley 0-1, Jackson 4-7, Maroney 1-2). Fouls -- UCO 11, ACU 21. Fouled out -- none. Technicals -- none.

Records -- UCO 5-3; ACU 7-0.