CU falls to #9 UCO on Homecoming

LAWTON, Oklahoma (February 21) – In Cameron University’s annual Homecoming game, the Aggie men’s basketball team (12-13, 5-5) fell to the nationally-ranked #9 Central Oklahoma Bronchos (22-3, 9-1 LSC North) by the score 85-62. CU kept their opponents in check for much of the game, but in the end UCO was simply too much. The loss gives the Bronchos the season sweep of the Aggies and drops CU back to .500 in North Division play.

“We played hard, they just ran so many players at us that it wore us out eventually,” Head Coach Wade Alexander said. “We did a good job in the first half until we ran out of gas and they made a run on us. They basically wore us out; we primarily played eight guys and they played 12.”

UCO was only up 38-34 at halftime of the game, which featured two ties and one lead change. Cameron began the game with the lead and held onto it until the 2:08 mark in the first half. A 15-4 run by Central Oklahoma heading into halftime gave the Bronchos their first and only lead. The Aggies got back within a point of tying the game midway through the second half, but another strong UCO run put the game away.

The Aggies shot a 36.8% (21-57) shooting percentage with 32 rebounds and 22 personal fouls, while the Bronchos finished with a 50.0% (31-62) shooting percentage with 46 rebounds and 20 personal fouls. Both teams committed 12 turnovers and recorded 7 steals in the game.

“We just have to shake this loss off,” Coach Alexander said. “We need to move onto the next game on Wednesday. Our next game is the biggest game of the year.”

Cameron has only two games left in the 2008-2009 regular season. On Wednesday (February 25) night the Aggies travel to Durant, Oklahoma, to take on the Southeastern Oklahoma State Savage Storm at 6:00pm. The following Saturday (February 28), CU hosts the East Central Tigers at 4:00pm in Aggie Gym to close out the regular season.

With only a pair of games left, each game becomes incredibly important as Cameron and Northeastern State continue to battle for the fourth and final playoff spot. The Aggies would be in if CU won their final two games or if NSU lost their final two home games. Additionally, if Cameron wins on Wednesday night and Northeastern State falls to Southwestern Oklahoma State, the Aggies clinch a postseason berth.