Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboys Hold Off Texas A&M in Final Seconds
June 21, 1999 | Cowboy Basketball
January 30, 1999
STILLWATER, Okla. - Brian Montonati grabbed a crucial rebound and hit two free throws with 3.3 seconds remaining, allowing Oklahoma State to hold off Texas A&M 66-61 Saturday.
Montonati came off the bench to score a career-high 16 points and tie his career best with 11 rebounds as the Cowboys (15-5, 6-2 Big 12) survived another scare. They were coming off a one-point nonconference victory over Southern Mississippi.
Texas A&M (9-9, 2-6) got 23 points from Clifton Cook and used a 38-24 rebounding edge to control the game much of the way, but the Aggies were undone by 30 turnovers.
A drive to the basket by Adrian Peterson with 2:19 remaining gave Oklahoma State a 62-61 lead. The Aggies turned it over with 1:28 left, then Oklahoma State missed twice.
Texas A&M grabbed the rebound on the second miss, a 3-point try by Joe Adkins with just under 35 seconds to play. After a timeout, the Aggies worked the clock for a final shot. Cook missed a short baseline jumper and Michael Schmidt's tip didn't fall, and Montonati grabbed the rebound and was fouled.
He sank both free throws with 3.3 seconds left, then Joe White's inbound pass banged off the overhead scoreboard and gave the ball back to OSU. Adkins made two free throws with 2.4 remaining to seal it.
Adkins finished with 18 points and five assists. Peterson scored 12.
Shanne Jones had 20 points for the Aggies, who have lost eight straight to Oklahoma State.
The Aggies committed 16 first-half turnovers, but led 40-29 because they shot 68 percent (17 of 25). Cook scored 19 of his points in the first half on 8-of-11 shooting. He committed six turnovers in the opening 20 minutes, but also had five assists and six rebounds.
While the Cowboys forced more turnovers, they also grabbed just six first-half rebounds. And their leading scorers, Desmond Mason and Peterson, were 1-of-5 and 1-of-6 from the field, respectively. Mason had eight points and fouled out with 4:31 to play.
His only first-half field goal got the Cowboys within 22-21 with 6:35 left, then the Aggies went on a 15-2 run to take their largest lead, 37-23. Cook scored the final seven points of the spurt.
Montonati scored eight points during a 12-2 run that allowed the Cowboys to take a 52-51 lead with 11:45 to play, and neither team led by three after that until the closing seconds.
By OWEN CANFIELD
AP Sports Writer
