JimBob
12-09-2007, 01:01 PM
Cowboys topple Bucs
By JIMMIE TRAMEL World Sports Writer
12/9/2007
Eaton's second-half surge helps OSU defeat tough East Tennessee.
STILLWATER -- If Oklahoma State coach Sean Sutton was looking for reasons to feel better about the future, he got them in a 78-65 come-from-behind victory Saturday night over East Tennessee State at Gallagher-Iba Arena.
Among them:
In the second half, Byron Eaton played like a fellow who was once a McDonald's All-American. The junior point guard scored all of his season-best 14 points after halftime and finished with consecutive turnover-free games for the first time in his career.
And OSU made a defensive stand that seemed like vintage Cowboy basketball. ETSU's final points came with 6:52 remaining. OSU, which trailed by as many as six points in the second half, landed a 14-0 finishing kick.
"We needed to be in a game like that, a tight game against a good team," said Sutton, whose Cowboys improved to 5-3. "I thought the last seven or eight minutes we really fought and battled and showed some signs of getting tougher."
Freshman guard James Anderson led OSU with 26 points and Terrel Harris scored 15, but it was Eaton who sparked a second-half charge against an ETSU squad that Sutton said will likely be an NCAA Tournament qualifier.
Eaton was scoreless in seven first-half minutes. He got benched in the first half and didn't react well to a heat-of-the-moment misunderstanding (he didn't hear Sutton's instructions in regard to playing against a zone defense).
Eaton said he was told he could stay on the bench until he got his mind right.
"I really challenged him at halftime," Sutton said. "The first half, he just had nothing going for him. I told him at halftime, I said 'this is a huge game. This is a game that we have got to win. You've got to go out there and be a warrior and be the player that you can be and be tough at both ends.' We are a lot better when he plays up to his capabilities. I thought he played well at both ends."
Eaton, who apologized to teammates at halftime, had three steals, frequently tied up ETSU players to force held balls and even blocked a shot attempt by reigning Atlantic Sun Conference player of the year Courtney Pigram, who scored 18 of his 23 points after halftime.
By surviving, the Cowboys claimed ownership of their first three-game winning streak since winning four in a row midway through last season.
"We really wanted to win this game," Harris said. "We had the feeling way to much (last season) to lose at home and lose by one or two points. I think we had a little leadership with this team. We kind of grew up a little bit and, like coach Sean said, this is a good win for us and we really stuck together instead of splitting up."
By JIMMIE TRAMEL World Sports Writer
12/9/2007
Eaton's second-half surge helps OSU defeat tough East Tennessee.
STILLWATER -- If Oklahoma State coach Sean Sutton was looking for reasons to feel better about the future, he got them in a 78-65 come-from-behind victory Saturday night over East Tennessee State at Gallagher-Iba Arena.
Among them:
In the second half, Byron Eaton played like a fellow who was once a McDonald's All-American. The junior point guard scored all of his season-best 14 points after halftime and finished with consecutive turnover-free games for the first time in his career.
And OSU made a defensive stand that seemed like vintage Cowboy basketball. ETSU's final points came with 6:52 remaining. OSU, which trailed by as many as six points in the second half, landed a 14-0 finishing kick.
"We needed to be in a game like that, a tight game against a good team," said Sutton, whose Cowboys improved to 5-3. "I thought the last seven or eight minutes we really fought and battled and showed some signs of getting tougher."
Freshman guard James Anderson led OSU with 26 points and Terrel Harris scored 15, but it was Eaton who sparked a second-half charge against an ETSU squad that Sutton said will likely be an NCAA Tournament qualifier.
Eaton was scoreless in seven first-half minutes. He got benched in the first half and didn't react well to a heat-of-the-moment misunderstanding (he didn't hear Sutton's instructions in regard to playing against a zone defense).
Eaton said he was told he could stay on the bench until he got his mind right.
"I really challenged him at halftime," Sutton said. "The first half, he just had nothing going for him. I told him at halftime, I said 'this is a huge game. This is a game that we have got to win. You've got to go out there and be a warrior and be the player that you can be and be tough at both ends.' We are a lot better when he plays up to his capabilities. I thought he played well at both ends."
Eaton, who apologized to teammates at halftime, had three steals, frequently tied up ETSU players to force held balls and even blocked a shot attempt by reigning Atlantic Sun Conference player of the year Courtney Pigram, who scored 18 of his 23 points after halftime.
By surviving, the Cowboys claimed ownership of their first three-game winning streak since winning four in a row midway through last season.
"We really wanted to win this game," Harris said. "We had the feeling way to much (last season) to lose at home and lose by one or two points. I think we had a little leadership with this team. We kind of grew up a little bit and, like coach Sean said, this is a good win for us and we really stuck together instead of splitting up."