AnniePokely
01-01-2008, 09:20 AM
Ryan Steele - NewsPress
Oklahoma State coach Sean Sutton issued a challenge to his team Monday.
“I challenged them before the game to see if we could hold (Northwestern State) between 40 and 45 points,” he said. “I was trying to get them to really concentrate and make each possession count where we didn’t give up easy baskets, open shots and baskets in transition.”
The Cowboys passed with flying colors as they routed NSU, 82-36, in front of 5,156 fans at Gallagher-Iba Arena. It marked the Demons’ lowest point total since a 45-29 loss to Texas-El Paso in 1972.
It was also OSU’s most lopsided victory since topping Prairie View A&M, 104-48, in its season opener on Nov. 9. Since then, four of the Cowboys’ wins have been by a margin of 14 points or less, including a 69-64 home win against Texas-Arlington on Dec. 22.
“It was good to get back to that feeling (of winning comfortably),” said O-State senior Marcus Dove. “I don’t think we’ve had that feeling since the two (exhibition) games at the very beginning of our schedule. For us to be able to laugh and joke around on the bench, it was fun to get back to that atmosphere.”
OSU missed its first four shots from the field but took a 16-9 lead when senior Tyler Hatch connected on a three-pointer with 10:02 left in the opening half. The Cowboys closed the period on a 14-3 run — including a putback by junior Terrel Harris at the buzzer — to take a 40-19 advantage at intermission.
The Demons were outscored, 42-17, in the final 20 minutes and shot 24.5 percent from the field. O-State hit 49.2 percent of its field-goal attempts — its third best shooting performance of the year — and committed 14 turnovers, which tied for its second-lowest total of the season.
“This was a solid win,” Sutton said. “We were better at the defensive end and had more awareness. I thought at first our players were a little sluggish early in the game. I know they’re a little tired from as much as we’ve practiced in the last three days and it showed up on some of those guys’ jump shots.”
When asked about the intensity of last week’s practices, Dove said, “If there’s a word for something tougher than tough, that would be it. We went real long and it was real competitive with a lot of energy and it’s what we need to get better.”
Freshman James Anderson scored a game-high 21 points and also grabbed seven rebounds. Dove added 15 points and a pair of blocks — which moved him into ninth place on the school’s career blocked shots list with 74 — and junior Byron Eaton chipped in with 10 points.
For the Demons, who turned the ball over 20 times and were outrebounded, 46-37, Trey Gilder recorded 13 points and Colby Bargeman added seven points and a game-high 10 rebounds.
The Cowboys return to action Wednesday when they host Texas-San Antonio at 7 p.m. The Roadrunners are led by Brooks Thompson, who competed at O-State from 1992-94.
“I really don’t enjoy these games at all but it was another deal where (Thompson) felt like it would help their program and he’s got a lot of passion for Oklahoma State,” Sutton said. “I think he likes to come back. ... He played a big part in building tradition and the program at Oklahoma State.”
Missing in action
OSU junior Anthony Brown, who averages 5.7 points and 3.8 boards, did not compete Monday because of a knee injury. Sutton said he expects the Brooklyn, N.Y., native to participate in Wednesday’s contest. Brown is playing 16.1 minutes per outing.
Foul happy
O-State junior Ibrahima Thomas fouled out of Monday’s game at the 17:50 mark in the second half. The 6-foot-11 post already had three fouls with 14:49 remaining in the opening period.
“He had to set a record or something for most fouls in the least amount of minutes,” Dove said. “That’s something he has to work on and realize that once he has three or four fouls, he can’t afford to make a dumb foul like that last one he did.”
A day to remember
Sophomore Scott Warner, a walk-on from Berryhill, entered the game with 1:51 left on the clock Monday and recorded his first two points of the season with eight seconds remaining.
“I was happy for him,” Sutton said. “He comes to practice every day and he works hard and does his part. It was a good reward for him to finally get a chance to get on the court.”
Oklahoma State coach Sean Sutton issued a challenge to his team Monday.
“I challenged them before the game to see if we could hold (Northwestern State) between 40 and 45 points,” he said. “I was trying to get them to really concentrate and make each possession count where we didn’t give up easy baskets, open shots and baskets in transition.”
The Cowboys passed with flying colors as they routed NSU, 82-36, in front of 5,156 fans at Gallagher-Iba Arena. It marked the Demons’ lowest point total since a 45-29 loss to Texas-El Paso in 1972.
It was also OSU’s most lopsided victory since topping Prairie View A&M, 104-48, in its season opener on Nov. 9. Since then, four of the Cowboys’ wins have been by a margin of 14 points or less, including a 69-64 home win against Texas-Arlington on Dec. 22.
“It was good to get back to that feeling (of winning comfortably),” said O-State senior Marcus Dove. “I don’t think we’ve had that feeling since the two (exhibition) games at the very beginning of our schedule. For us to be able to laugh and joke around on the bench, it was fun to get back to that atmosphere.”
OSU missed its first four shots from the field but took a 16-9 lead when senior Tyler Hatch connected on a three-pointer with 10:02 left in the opening half. The Cowboys closed the period on a 14-3 run — including a putback by junior Terrel Harris at the buzzer — to take a 40-19 advantage at intermission.
The Demons were outscored, 42-17, in the final 20 minutes and shot 24.5 percent from the field. O-State hit 49.2 percent of its field-goal attempts — its third best shooting performance of the year — and committed 14 turnovers, which tied for its second-lowest total of the season.
“This was a solid win,” Sutton said. “We were better at the defensive end and had more awareness. I thought at first our players were a little sluggish early in the game. I know they’re a little tired from as much as we’ve practiced in the last three days and it showed up on some of those guys’ jump shots.”
When asked about the intensity of last week’s practices, Dove said, “If there’s a word for something tougher than tough, that would be it. We went real long and it was real competitive with a lot of energy and it’s what we need to get better.”
Freshman James Anderson scored a game-high 21 points and also grabbed seven rebounds. Dove added 15 points and a pair of blocks — which moved him into ninth place on the school’s career blocked shots list with 74 — and junior Byron Eaton chipped in with 10 points.
For the Demons, who turned the ball over 20 times and were outrebounded, 46-37, Trey Gilder recorded 13 points and Colby Bargeman added seven points and a game-high 10 rebounds.
The Cowboys return to action Wednesday when they host Texas-San Antonio at 7 p.m. The Roadrunners are led by Brooks Thompson, who competed at O-State from 1992-94.
“I really don’t enjoy these games at all but it was another deal where (Thompson) felt like it would help their program and he’s got a lot of passion for Oklahoma State,” Sutton said. “I think he likes to come back. ... He played a big part in building tradition and the program at Oklahoma State.”
Missing in action
OSU junior Anthony Brown, who averages 5.7 points and 3.8 boards, did not compete Monday because of a knee injury. Sutton said he expects the Brooklyn, N.Y., native to participate in Wednesday’s contest. Brown is playing 16.1 minutes per outing.
Foul happy
O-State junior Ibrahima Thomas fouled out of Monday’s game at the 17:50 mark in the second half. The 6-foot-11 post already had three fouls with 14:49 remaining in the opening period.
“He had to set a record or something for most fouls in the least amount of minutes,” Dove said. “That’s something he has to work on and realize that once he has three or four fouls, he can’t afford to make a dumb foul like that last one he did.”
A day to remember
Sophomore Scott Warner, a walk-on from Berryhill, entered the game with 1:51 left on the clock Monday and recorded his first two points of the season with eight seconds remaining.
“I was happy for him,” Sutton said. “He comes to practice every day and he works hard and does his part. It was a good reward for him to finally get a chance to get on the court.”