JimBob
02-07-2008, 07:21 AM
Cowboys shake off Buffaloes
By JIMMIE TRAMEL World Sports Writer
2/7/2008
Oklahoma State dodges rally, seventh straight loss.
STILLWATER -- Scarier than it needed to be? Sure. But Oklahoma State isn't complaining.
OSU scored on its final nine possessions and survived a wild comeback attempt by Colorado to secure a 64-63 triumph Wednesday night at Gallagher-Iba Arena. The Cowboys ended a six-game losing streak and won their first game since a Jan. 12 Big 12 opener against Texas Tech.
OSU coach Sean Sutton said he is glad the game didn't last any longer because of the way Colorado was shooting the ball at the end of the game. His team led by nine points after James Anderson scored inside with 52.6 seconds left.
But the Buffs made the 8,359 fans in attendance squirm by cashing three desperation 3-pointers in the last 24.7 seconds, including a long buzzer bomb by Marcus Hall after Byron Eaton's two free throws with 1.2 seconds left had given the Cowboys a four-point lead.
"The bottom line is we needed to win. It doesn't matter if it's one point or seven points. Our team needed to win," Sutton said.
The last time OSU lost six straight games came during 1986-87. A few freshmen who weren't yet born in 1986 helped prevent the current skid from reaching seven straight games. Anderson scored a team-high 16 points. Freshmen post players Ibrahima Thomas and Martavius Adams combined for 15 points and 19 rebounds in a collective 40 minutes of court time.
"Martavius the last two days really practiced well and I thought it showed tonight," Sutton said. "He and Thomas I thought really played well. . . For two young freshmen in a Big 12 game, that was a solid performance on those guys' part."
Thomas matched a career-high with 10 rebounds and came one point away from a second consecutive double-double. Adams grabbed a career-best nine rebounds (five offensive) and scored his most points (six) ever in a conference game.
They helped the Cowboys outrebound the Buffs by 11 and -- while on the subject of 11 -- it's worth mentioning that the Pokes evened their record at 11-11 while moving to 2-6 in league play.
"Any win, after what we have been through, will help the mind set and help (the players') confidence," Sutton said. "I will say this about our players. I'm really proud of them because during this streak where we have lost so many close games and had so many tough losses, they never put their head down and never felt sorry for themselves. They kept their spirits up and continued to work hard on the practice court."
Colorado slipped into sole possession of last place in the Big 12 with a sixth consecutive defeat. The Buffs, losers of 17 consecutive league road games since winning at Gallagher-Iba Arena two seasons ago, fell to 9-13 and 1-7.
Sutton said CU players made some unbelievable shots to stay close at the end of the game. "Crazy shots" was Eaton's description.
"If we make our free throws down the stretch, we are not in this situation even with some of the shots they made," Sutton said.
The Cowboys made 7-of-10 free throws in the final 46 seconds. Colorado trailed by three after Eaton hit 1-of-2 with 4.1 seconds left. Marcus Dove fouled Richard Roby, who led CU with 22 points, before Roby could launch a tying 3-point attempt. Roby missed his first free throw and hit the second, then Eaton was fouled and hit two clinching free throws.
Eaton said the Cowboys should have put the Buffs away. But he'll take an any-way-you-can-get-it victory.
Said Eaton, "We needed this win so we can have confidence in ourselves and let us know that we can still win."
By JIMMIE TRAMEL World Sports Writer
2/7/2008
Oklahoma State dodges rally, seventh straight loss.
STILLWATER -- Scarier than it needed to be? Sure. But Oklahoma State isn't complaining.
OSU scored on its final nine possessions and survived a wild comeback attempt by Colorado to secure a 64-63 triumph Wednesday night at Gallagher-Iba Arena. The Cowboys ended a six-game losing streak and won their first game since a Jan. 12 Big 12 opener against Texas Tech.
OSU coach Sean Sutton said he is glad the game didn't last any longer because of the way Colorado was shooting the ball at the end of the game. His team led by nine points after James Anderson scored inside with 52.6 seconds left.
But the Buffs made the 8,359 fans in attendance squirm by cashing three desperation 3-pointers in the last 24.7 seconds, including a long buzzer bomb by Marcus Hall after Byron Eaton's two free throws with 1.2 seconds left had given the Cowboys a four-point lead.
"The bottom line is we needed to win. It doesn't matter if it's one point or seven points. Our team needed to win," Sutton said.
The last time OSU lost six straight games came during 1986-87. A few freshmen who weren't yet born in 1986 helped prevent the current skid from reaching seven straight games. Anderson scored a team-high 16 points. Freshmen post players Ibrahima Thomas and Martavius Adams combined for 15 points and 19 rebounds in a collective 40 minutes of court time.
"Martavius the last two days really practiced well and I thought it showed tonight," Sutton said. "He and Thomas I thought really played well. . . For two young freshmen in a Big 12 game, that was a solid performance on those guys' part."
Thomas matched a career-high with 10 rebounds and came one point away from a second consecutive double-double. Adams grabbed a career-best nine rebounds (five offensive) and scored his most points (six) ever in a conference game.
They helped the Cowboys outrebound the Buffs by 11 and -- while on the subject of 11 -- it's worth mentioning that the Pokes evened their record at 11-11 while moving to 2-6 in league play.
"Any win, after what we have been through, will help the mind set and help (the players') confidence," Sutton said. "I will say this about our players. I'm really proud of them because during this streak where we have lost so many close games and had so many tough losses, they never put their head down and never felt sorry for themselves. They kept their spirits up and continued to work hard on the practice court."
Colorado slipped into sole possession of last place in the Big 12 with a sixth consecutive defeat. The Buffs, losers of 17 consecutive league road games since winning at Gallagher-Iba Arena two seasons ago, fell to 9-13 and 1-7.
Sutton said CU players made some unbelievable shots to stay close at the end of the game. "Crazy shots" was Eaton's description.
"If we make our free throws down the stretch, we are not in this situation even with some of the shots they made," Sutton said.
The Cowboys made 7-of-10 free throws in the final 46 seconds. Colorado trailed by three after Eaton hit 1-of-2 with 4.1 seconds left. Marcus Dove fouled Richard Roby, who led CU with 22 points, before Roby could launch a tying 3-point attempt. Roby missed his first free throw and hit the second, then Eaton was fouled and hit two clinching free throws.
Eaton said the Cowboys should have put the Buffs away. But he'll take an any-way-you-can-get-it victory.
Said Eaton, "We needed this win so we can have confidence in ourselves and let us know that we can still win."