Pre-season Lone Star Conference North Division Player of the Year Sam Belt scored 14 points during a 15-5 run to start the second half en route to a game-high 38 points while hitting eight 3-pointers to lead Central Oklahoma to a 76-60 win over host Texas A&M University-Commerce.
Central Oklahoma extended its winning streak to nine games and raised its overall record to 18-4 and 5-2 in the Lone Star Conference North Division.
Belt was joined in double figures by Michael Sosanya, who scored 14 points.
Belt, the fourth-leading scorer in the Lone Star Conference, had 17 of his 38 in the first half en route to leading the visitors to a 34-32 halftime lead.
Central Oklahoma outscored the Lions, 13-to-2 in points off turnovers at the break.
In the first half, the two teams exchanged the lead on ten occasions and the score was tied six more times.
A&M-Commerce (9-13, 4-3 LSC North) senior Kevin Widemond led the Lions with 18 points and senior Lance Jackson added 10 in his second game back from an injury.
The Bronchos held A&M-Commerce senior Scooby Johnson to a season-low eight points, snapping a streak of 21-consecutive games in double digits.
After a Widemond lay up put the Lions in front 28-23, Belt scored on a layup and hit a three pointer to tie the game for the sixth and final time at 28.
Widemond drove for another layup to give A&M-Commerce a 30-28 lead with 1:40 left in the first half, but a 3-pointer by UCO put the Bronchos ahead, 31-30 and for the remainder of the game.
Central Oklahoma went on a 15-5 run to start the second half to go in front 51-37 with 13:22 remaining in the game.
During the run, Belt hit four 3-pointers and made a layup to put the game out of reach.
The lead for the Bronchos would remain double digits for most of the final 20 minutes.
Lions rout Aggies
Senior Scooby Johnson scored eight-straight in the second half and nine of the first 12 to start the game en route to a game-high and season-high 35 points in a 93-78 win by the Texas A&M University-Commerce men’s basketball team over host Cameron on Wednesday night.
Johnson was not alone as teammates Kevin Widemond and Derrick Darkis each hit back-to-back 3-pointers on a pair of occasions en route to 26 and 13 points, respectively.
Johnson also put in his fourth double-double effort of the season, grabbing 13 rebounds.
The Lions raise their record to 9-12 overall and 4-2 in the Lone Star Conference.
Also, with the win, head coach Sam Walker improves his all-time mark against the Aggies to 9-1.
Four Aggies, who fall to 4-17 overall and 2-4 in the LSC North, had four players in double digits, including three players – Dave Smith, Chad Allan and Maurice Cubit, who scored 14 points.
Plus, Leslie Malone added 10 off the bench.