Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State University
Nebraska
Oklahoma State Nips Nebraska, 70-63
January 23, 2002 | Cowboy Basketball
Jan 23, 2002
By OWEN CANFIELD
AP Sports Writer
STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) - After two ugly losses last week, beating Nebraska by only seven points at home didn't look too bad to No. 11 Oklahoma State.
The Cowboys shot just 40 percent Wednesday night, but held off Nebraska 70-63 behind Ivan McFarlin's 20 points and 17 rebounds, both career-highs.
"I thought we played a lot better than we have in the past two games," forward Fredrik Jonzen said. "There's still a lot of things we have to correct and get better. But I think at least tonight we came out, we were fired up and we wanted to play."
The Cowboys (16-3, 3-3 Big 12) fell out of the Top Ten after losing by 18 points at home to Kansas and by 24 at Texas Tech. They played better defense against Nebraska (8-9, 1-5) and, thanks to McFarlin, outrebounded the Cornhuskers 45-22.
"I thought we played with a lot more enthusiasm, a lot more effort. Our defense was so much better than it has been," coach Eddie Sutton said.
"Our defensive board play was sensational. When you double the other team in rebounding, then you know you've played well."
McFarlin, a sophomore in his first season, had nine rebounds by halftime to move within two of his career best. He kept it going in the second half and finished with 10 offensive rebounds to help offset the Cowboys' poor shooting.
"It was just one of those nights that I felt the groove and every rebound that came off, I had to have," McFarlin said.
Nebraska had been outrebounded by an average of 11 per game in conference play, and Sutton said he told McFarlin, Jonzen and Andre Williams that each could get a double-double if they played well.
"Ivan took me at my word, I guess," he said. "That's one of the great individual performances that we've had since I've been at Oklahoma State."
Nebraska made nine 3-pointers, four by John Robinson who scored 22 points, but the Cornhuskers lost for the eighth time in 10 games.
Oklahoma State led by seven early in the second half but the Cornhuskers stayed close. Consecutive 3-pointers by Brian Conklin and Robinson, and a shot inside by Jake Muhleisen, brought Nebraska within 58-57 with 5:05 remaining.
Maurice Baker made both ends of a 1-and-1 then scored on a putback to make it 62-57 with 2:44 left. After Robinson made two free throws, McFarlin did the same and then scored on a dunk at the 1:00 mark for a 66-59 lead.
Victor Williams sealed it with four free throws over the final minute.
Baker, still bothered by a groin injury, had 12 points before fouling out with 2:29 left, while Jonzen had 13, Melvin Sanders 11 and Williams 10.
Muhleisen had 16 points for the Cornhuskers, who are 0-7 away from home this season.
"We made shots and I thought we played pretty good defense, but we came up short," Robinson said. "Coming down here with the No. 11 team and playing with them, I think we did a great job."
