Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State University
Kansas City
Cowboys Undo UMKC, 62-50
December 19, 2001 | Cowboy Basketball
Dec 19, 2001
By DOUG TUCKER
AP Sports Writer
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - If Maurice Baker ever puts together a complete game, he'll score 44 points.
First, the 6-foot-1 Oklahoma State senior scored all 22 of his points against Northwestern State on Saturday night in the first half. Then, leading the sixth-ranked Cowboys past Missouri-Kansas City 62-50 Wednesday night, he scored all 22 of his points in the second half.
"Mo is like a heat radiator," said teammate Victor Williams. "Push the button and he gets hot."
The Cowboys (11-0) needed a big surge from Baker to withstand a 13-0 run by the Kangaroos (6-2), who were playing in front of their second-biggest crowd ever (8,643) and hoped to establish themselves as a viable Division I program.
After Baker drilled a 3-pointer and then followed with a driving basket for a 46-27 Oklahoma State lead, the cold-shooting Kangaroos started to hit.
From 10:27 to 4:44, UMKC outscored the visitors 13-0, led by Michael Watson.
When Andre Williams fouled out with 5:08 left and Michael Jackson sank two free throws, the Cowboys' lead melted to 46-40.
But then Baker took charge, hitting a driving layup, converting a three-point play, and then drilling a long 3-pointer a moment later to put the Cowboys on top 54-44.
The Kangaroos, who lost by 11 points at No. 3 Kansas two weeks earlier, shot just 28 percent.
"There was a different feeling in that lockeroom at halftime tonight than there was at Kansas," said UMKC coach Rich Zvosec. "There was a feeling tonight that we could really win this game."
Victor Williams had 10 points for Oklahoma State, 11-0 for the second time since 1997-98.
Watson and Marcus Golson had 14 points apiece for the Kangaroos. Michael Jackson added 11.
"I challenged (Baker)," said Oklahoma State coach Eddie Sutton. "He got 22 in the first half of the last game and he got 22 in the second half of this game. I guess he's a good listener."
The Kangaroos had just 13 turnovers to 19 for Oklahoma State.
"Unfortunately, our shots weren't falling," Golson said. "Had we played our defense like we can, we would have won."
Facing UMKC's trademark zone defense, the Cowboys' first three baskets were from 3-point range, including a long one by Victor Williams that gave Oklahoma State a 9-8 lead it never gave back.
Golson hit a 12-footer and then answered Melvin Sanders' 3-pointer with a tip-in that shaved the Cowboys' lead to 17-16.
But then Andre Williams hit a jumper and Victor Williams tipped in a miss as the Cowboys went on their 11-2 spree and took a 30-21 halftime lead.
