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EDMOND, Okla. -- Central Oklahoma made two free throws with 3.9 seconds left in the game to beat Central Missouri 69-67 on Thursday night at Hamilton Fieldhouse. It was the second straight game that the Mules were beaten on a pair of free throws with under five seconds to play.

Widgett Washington had made a pair of free throws with 14 seconds left to tie the game at 67, but the Mules (15-5, 9-3 MIAA) were whistled for a foul as Jamell Cormier drove to the bucket in the closing seconds. UCM used a 10-3 run to grab a 61-57 lead with three and half minutes to play, but the Bronchos (9-11, 7-5 MIAA) got three pointers from Christian Huffman and one from Cormier as the shot clock expired to tie the game with just over a minute remaining.

The back-and-forth battle saw seven ties and eight lead changes as each team got big runs to tie and subsequently take the lead.

In the first half, UCO jumped out to a 5-0 lead only to see the Mules score nine straight points to grab a four-point lead just two and a half minutes into the game. The Bronchos responded with an 18-2 run to take a 23-11 lead with 13:28 left in the first half. UCM came right back with a 24-4 run of their own to take a 35-27 lead with 5:33 to play in the opening period. 

UCM would go scoreless the remainder of the half, however, and Central Oklahoma took advantage scoring the final 11 points of the frame to lead 38-35 at halftime.

The Bronchos used an 11-5 spurt to start the second half to open a 49-40 lead with 15:51 to play, but UCM used an 11-2 run to tie the game at 51 with 8:35 to play. UCO went right back in front on a trey by Cal Andrews, one of 10 on the night for the Bronchos, only to see the Mules go on their late run to go back in front by four setting up the final few minutes.

UCM was led i nscoring by Widgett Washington with 16 points. He also added nine assists and four rebounds. Charles Hammork and Dominique Long each finished with 13 points and Matt Webb chipped in 10. 

The Mules shot 46 percent from the floor, 24-of-52, including 37 percent, 7-of-19, from beyond the arc. UCM was 12-of-17 from the free throw line for 71 percent.

The Mules had 15 assists and 15 turnovers and UCM's bench out-scored UCO's 15-2.

The Bronchos were led by Josh Gibbs' 21 points. Huffman, Cormier and Andrews all finished with 14 points apiece. Andrews added a game-high 10 rebounds for a double-double.

UCO shot 42 percent for the game, 27-of-65, and they made 10-of-26 three-pointers for 39 percent. The Bronchos were 5-of-7 from the foul line.

Both teams finished with 35 rebounds and 28 points in the paint.

The Mules are back in action on Saturday night at Missouri Southern at 7:30 p.m. The game can be heard live on the UCM Sports Network on 1450 KOKO, 98.5 The Bar and www.warrensburgradio.com with Shawn Jones and Greg Hassler. Airtime on the network is set for 7:05 p.m. from the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center in Joplin.