STEPHENVILLE – An 18-point halftime deficit was too much for Tarleton to overcome in a 71-63 loss to Central Oklahoma on Saturday in Wisdom Gym.
 
Josh Hawley led the Texans in scoring with 16 points and added nine rebounds. Corinthian Ramsey added 15 points and six assists, while Jaraan Lands posted 11 points giving the Texans three in double figures.
 
Tarleton (2-2) took an early 8-7 lead on an Anthony Davis 3-pointer but Central Oklahoma went on 11-0 run over the next three minutes to take a double-digit lead and never trailed again.
 
The Bronchos (3-1) took a 43-25 lead into the break after shooting 50 percent from the floor, while the Texans shot 35 percent and had 11 turnovers.
 
UCO made a pair of 3-pointers to open the second half for a 49-25 advantage. The Texans responded with an 11-0 run behind Brandon Johnson's four steals in a two-minute span. Johnson finished with nine points and five steals – all in the second half – in his first game of the season.
 
Trailing 62-42 with 10:21 to go, the Texans answered with a 16-4 stretch to cut the deficit to single digits at 66-58. Tarleton would get to within six points with under a minute to go, but it was close as the Texans would get in the comeback bid.
 
Tarleton missed seven free throws in the game (25-32) while UCO went 14-16 from the line. The Texans finished the game shooting 35 percent from the floor and had 16 turnovers.
 
Tarleton will take on St. Mary's on Saturday, Nov. 25 at 4 p.m. in Wisdom Gym.