Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboys Get Past Southeast Missouri, 75-64
June 21, 1999 | Cowboy Basketball
December 30, 1998
By OWEN CANFIELD
AP Sports Writer
STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) - No. 25 Oklahoma State hoped for a tuneup, and instead got a real test from Southeast Missouri.
The Cowboys, who open Big 12 play Saturday against Kansas State, needed a late surge to win 75-64 Wednesday night.
Southeast Missouri led by as many as 10 in the first half and didn't go away after Oklahoma State (8-3) twice built eight-point leads midway through the second. The score was tied at 59 before Adrian Peterson led the Cowboys to victory.
Peterson scored 10 of his 20 points in the final 6:10. Brian Montonati added six of his 13 in the final eight minutes.
"I don't think anybody thought it would be as tough a game as it was, but they came out and played real well," Peterson said.
The Indians (6-5) had shot just 33 percent in the past two games, losses to Southwest Missouri and Southern Illinois. But they hit 48 percent in more than holding their own during the first half.
A 15-5 run midway through the half, which included eight free throws, gave them a 26-17 lead. Bud Eley was able to get inside almost at will while scoring 12 of his 14 points, including three dunks. His shot from in close gave the Indians a 37-28 lead with 4:02 left before halftime.
Southeast Missouri scored just once the rest of the way, missing six of seven shots against a Cowboy press. Oklahoma State took advantage, scoring nine points to cut the Indians' lead to 39-37 at halftime.
"We made a good adjustment before the half when we went to the press, because I think it helped relax us offensively and got us into transition," coach Eddie Sutton said.
That momentum carried over into the early moments of the second half, when the Cowboys scored six straight points to go ahead 43-39. They went on to lead by eight twice in the second half, but 3-pointers by Cory Johnson and Mike Branson helped bring Southeast Missouri back.
The Indians tied the score at 59 on a free throw by Kahn Cotton with 7:54 left, then went nearly four minutes without a basket.
Montonati scored inside to give the Cowboys the lead for good. Peterson followed with a 3-pointer that made the score 64-59, and added a turnaround jumper in close, a layup and another 3-pointer in the final 3 1/2 minutes.
Oklahoma State held the Indians to 35 percent shooting in the second half and outrebounded them 23-13.
"I liked the second half a lot better than the first half," Sutton said.
"Going into conference play, I'm glad we had a team really challenge us. I think it was good the game was played like it was, because I think our guys had to reach down and really play hard the last 20 minutes."
Desmond Mason added 15 points and seven rebounds, while Joe Adkins had 13 points and seven assists for the Cowboys.
Johnson made five 3-pointers and finished with 18 points. Branson scored 16, including four 3s.
