Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State University
Athletes First
Cowboys Fall To Athletes First In Exhibition Opener
November 09, 2000 | Cowboy Basketball
Nov. 9, 2000
ENID, Okla. - Chad Wilkerson and Tim Gill combined for 62 points as Athletes First held off a furious rally to defeat Oklahoma State 96-95 Thursday, sending the Cowboys to their first exhibition loss since 1988.
Wilkerson hit six three-pointers and scored 32 points to help Athletes First build a lead as big as 14 points in the second half before Maurice Baker's 27-point effort keyed an OSU rally that saw the Cowboys cut the lead to a single point before the final gun. The junior-college transfer playing his first collegiate game hit 10 of 19 field-goal attempts and had seven assists, six rebounds and just two turnovers in 38 minutes of court time.
"I thought the biggest thing was our defense -- transition defense in particular," said OSU coach Eddie Sutton. "I thought we gave up too many baskets. When we did play half-court defense, we allowed too much dribble penetration, and it broke our defense down. Then, they would force the help and kick it out, and either Wilkerson or Gill would knock it down."
The loss snapped OSU's 22-game exhibition winning streak, OSU had not lost in exhibition play since a 1988 defeat at the hands of an outstanding Soviet team that included Sharunas Marchulenis, Arvidas Sabonis and Alexandr Volkov. It was Athletes First's third consecutive victory.
Wilkerson scored 22 points and had 14 rebounds in a November 1999 game against the Cowboys, Athletes First lost that contest 93-80.
"I have to give credit to my teammates, they found me when I was open, and I was able to knock down some shots," said Wilkerson. "It is always fun when your shots are going down. You play a little bit harder, and you are a little bit quicker and have a little more enthusiasm for the game. The ball started rolling, and I hit some shots to keep it going."
Former Cowboy Alex Webber, who completed his OSU career last spring, started for Athletes First and scored seven points, flashing his underrated jumper to hit a three-pointer in the second half -- giving him one more three in this game than in his four-year OSU career.
Fredrik Jonzen had 16 points and nine rebounds in a losing effort for OSU. Newcomer Melvin Sanders (13 points) and sophomore Andre Williams (10) also tallied in double figures for the Cowboys.
OSU, still on the road while construction is completed on the new Gallagher-Iba Arena, concludes exhibition play next Thursday when it faces the California Midwest All-Stars at the Mabee Center in Tulsa.
