Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State University
Fresno State
Men's Basketball Falls To Fresno St., 58-52
February 10, 2002 | Cowboy Basketball
Feb 10, 2002
FRESNO, Calif. (AP) - Damon Jackson did the shooting and Travis DeManby did the stealing for Fresno State.
Jackson was 7-of-11 from 3-point range and scored a career-high 24 points, and DeManby had a school-record 11 steals as the Bulldogs (15-10) snapped a four-game losing streak with a 58-52 victory over No. 14 Oklahoma State on Sunday.
Ivan McFarlin and Victor Williams each scored 12 points for Oklahoma State (18-6), which played without leading scorer Maurice Baker, who sprained an ankle last week.
Jackson made just 13 of his previous 54 3-point attempts entering Sunday's game. Fortunately for the Bulldogs, he found the range Sunday as DeManby went 0-for-8 from the field and didn't score.
The 6-foot-2 Jackson, a junior guard, said he listened to the advice of coach Jerry Tarkanian, who instructed him to look at the rim after shooting instead of following the flight of the ball.
"That's a big adjustment, especially for a shooter," Jackson said. "I give Coach a lot of credit for having confidence in me. I gave him a big hug after the game and said, 'Thanks."'
Fresno State won despite shooting just 34.5 percent from the field. Oklahoma State, however, shot only 35 percent and committed 25 turnovers against the Bulldogs' zone defense.
The Cowboys limited Fresno State center Melvin Ely to just 11 points, his lowest output since Nov. 15.
"I thought defensively we did a good job on Ely, and our defense was good enough to give us a chance to win," Oklahoma State coach Eddie Sutton said. "But like someone told me a long time ago, if you don't put the ball in the bucket, you're not going to win."
Oklahoma State committed nine turnovers in the first 8:30 and made just one of its first nine shots as Fresno State opened the game with a 17-2 run. The Cowboys closed to 27-22 at halftime.
The teams traded baskets early in the second half before Oklahoma State took a 50-48 lead on Williams' 3-pointer with 6:31 left.
But Fresno State tied the score on its next possession on a dunk by Noel Felix, then went ahead for good with 2:15 left on a 3-pointer by Chris Sandy.
The Bulldogs finished the game on an 8-2 run.
"We had some other guys really step up," Tarkanian said. "I knew Ely would struggle because Sutton is such a great defensive coach. Damon Jackson and Chris Sandy really came through for us.
"I hope this is the kind of game that will give us some confidence and get us moving. We can really make a run down the stretch."
Oklahoma State was just 5-for-25 from 3-point range, but the Cowboys finished with a 45-33 rebound advantage. Williams, a 5-10 guard, had 10.
Baker hurt his right ankle during Wednesday's victory over No. 24 Texas Tech and is questionable for Wednesday's intrastate showdown with No. 4 Oklahoma.
Forward Chris Jefferies missed his fourth straight game for Fresno State with torn cartilage in his left knee.
