JimBob
11-28-2008, 10:08 AM
Bulldogs beat Cowboys by 12
By Staff Reports
11/28/2008
Last Modified: 11/28/2008 3:44 AM
Gonzaga pulls away at end to hand OSU its first defeat.
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Not even a statistically superb performance by junior guard Obi Muonelo was enough to rescue Oklahoma State in the first round of the Old Spice Classic.
Muonelo produced his second career (and second consecutive) double-double with 16 points and a career-best 15 rebounds, but OSU was beaten 83-71 Thursday because the ninth-ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs landed a lethal finishing kick at The Milk House.
Neither team led by more than three points in the second half until Gonzaga caught fire and scored on 13 of its final 16 possessions. The Zags erupted for 21 points in the last 6:20, including a game-turning 15-2 spurt after Muonelo gave OSU a 63-62 lead.
"The last five minutes we just didn't have the toughness we needed," said Travis Ford after suffering his first defeat as OSU's head coach. "Gonzaga showed their experience and showed why they are one of the best teams in the country."
Gonzaga improved to 3-0 this season and 3-0 all-time against OSU. All three series games were played in the last five seasons.
OSU, playing away from Gallagher-Iba Arena for the first time this season, dropped to 4-1 and fell into a game against a higher-ranked opponent.
The Cowboys are scheduled to face fifth-ranked Michigan State in an ESPNU-televised game at 7 p.m. Friday. Michigan State lost 80-62 to Maryland in a tournament opener.
"I hope we have something left tomorrow," Ford said. "We need to get some rest."
Terrel Harris scored a team-high 17 points despite getting only eight field goal attempts and despite sitting out the last six minutes of the first half due to foul trouble.
James Anderson added 14 points on a night when the Cowboys shot 37.9 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from 3-point range.
Byron Eaton had 10 assists, but was 2-of-15 from the field and 0-of-7 from beyond the arc.
"Our team is going to go as far as Byron goes," Ford said.
But Ford said the loss wasn't Eaton's fault. "Byron is normally the one that bails everybody else out and nobody helped him out tonight."
Ford said his team played hard, but didn't play smart.
Micah Downs led five Gonzaga players in double figures with 17 points.
Jeremy Pargo contributed 15 points and seven assists for the Bulldogs.
By Staff Reports
11/28/2008
Last Modified: 11/28/2008 3:44 AM
Gonzaga pulls away at end to hand OSU its first defeat.
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Not even a statistically superb performance by junior guard Obi Muonelo was enough to rescue Oklahoma State in the first round of the Old Spice Classic.
Muonelo produced his second career (and second consecutive) double-double with 16 points and a career-best 15 rebounds, but OSU was beaten 83-71 Thursday because the ninth-ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs landed a lethal finishing kick at The Milk House.
Neither team led by more than three points in the second half until Gonzaga caught fire and scored on 13 of its final 16 possessions. The Zags erupted for 21 points in the last 6:20, including a game-turning 15-2 spurt after Muonelo gave OSU a 63-62 lead.
"The last five minutes we just didn't have the toughness we needed," said Travis Ford after suffering his first defeat as OSU's head coach. "Gonzaga showed their experience and showed why they are one of the best teams in the country."
Gonzaga improved to 3-0 this season and 3-0 all-time against OSU. All three series games were played in the last five seasons.
OSU, playing away from Gallagher-Iba Arena for the first time this season, dropped to 4-1 and fell into a game against a higher-ranked opponent.
The Cowboys are scheduled to face fifth-ranked Michigan State in an ESPNU-televised game at 7 p.m. Friday. Michigan State lost 80-62 to Maryland in a tournament opener.
"I hope we have something left tomorrow," Ford said. "We need to get some rest."
Terrel Harris scored a team-high 17 points despite getting only eight field goal attempts and despite sitting out the last six minutes of the first half due to foul trouble.
James Anderson added 14 points on a night when the Cowboys shot 37.9 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from 3-point range.
Byron Eaton had 10 assists, but was 2-of-15 from the field and 0-of-7 from beyond the arc.
"Our team is going to go as far as Byron goes," Ford said.
But Ford said the loss wasn't Eaton's fault. "Byron is normally the one that bails everybody else out and nobody helped him out tonight."
Ford said his team played hard, but didn't play smart.
Micah Downs led five Gonzaga players in double figures with 17 points.
Jeremy Pargo contributed 15 points and seven assists for the Bulldogs.