While Dauntae Williams might be the engine that powers UCO’s basketball squad, every good vehicle needs a driver.

      The Bronchos are advancing to Sunday’s LSC Championship final game for many reason, but not bigger than the play of backup guard Victor Driver, who entered the weekend averaging just 4.5 points per game, but has 35 points (17.5 ppg) in two tournament wins so far.

      Driver doubled his career-high with 25 points off the bench Thursday against Eastern New Mexico and then came back with 10 in Saturday’s double-overtime win over West Texas A&M.

      Driver’s previous career-high in points was just 12 points, just last week in the regular-season finale against Cameron. So in the last three games, Driver is averaging 

      “He’s been playing really for us,” UCO head coach Terry Evans said of Driver. “At this time of year, you have to have guys step up for you and he’s definitely done that for us in these two games.”

      What Evans likes more than anything about Driver is the versatility he brings to the floor.

      “The thing about him is that he can guard, he can handle the ball, he makes open shots,” Evans said. “He brings leadership to us. Two years ago, he started on a team that was ranked as high as No. 7. So he’s a good player that has a lot of experience for us.”

      Driver, who missed last season and parts of this year with a hip injury, didn’t play in the first meetings this season against either of UCO’s opponents this weekend. Driver was a missing member of the Bronchos’ loss to West Texas A&M back in December, which they avenged on Saturday in the semifinals.

      “I missed being out there but I knew when I came back I had to step up my game,” Driver said. “It’s good we got to avenge that (West Texas) loss today. Now we’ve got to keep playing well and move on.”

      With UCO currently holding the No. 2 seed in the South Central Region, there is an outside chance the Bronchos could jump into the top spot and possibly host next weekend’s regional tournament in Edmond, Okla.

      Either way, Driver said he will be ready when his number is called.

      “I just try to be bring an energy boost off the bench or whatever they need,” Driver said. “We know Dauntae is our guy and we’ve got to get him the ball and get him going. But we all know our role and when it’s time to hit big shots, that’s what we do.”

      So far, here in Bartlesville, no one has done it better than Driver.