Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboys Host Longhorns In Weekend Matchup
February 21, 2003 | Cowboy Basketball
Feb. 21, 2003
Oklahoma State Cowboys
(19-5, 8-3) host the Texas Longhorns (18-4, 9-2)
in the second meeting between the two schools
Saturday, Feb. 22, 2003 *?3 p.m. (CST)
Gallagher-Iba Arena [13,611] * Stillwater, Okla.
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Oklahoma State Cowboys
Probable Starters (based on last game)
Name Ht. Wt. Yr. PPG RPG F 23 Ivan McFarlin 6-8 237 Jr. 10.9 7.1 F 40 Andre Williams 6-8 225 Sr. 4.1 5.6 G 5 Victor Williams 5-10 187 Sr. 15.5 3.4 ^ G 24 Tony Allen 6-4 205 Jr. 14.8 5.3 G 34 Melvin Sanders 6-5 210 Sr. 13.2 4.8
Off the Bench
Name Ht. Wt. Yr. PPG RPG C 4 Frans Steyn 7-2 306 So. 0.5 1.0 G 25 Janavor Weatherspoon 6-1 165 Jr. 3.0 1.0 G 30 Cheyne Gadson 6-3 190 Sr. 5.6 3.0 ^ F 33 Jason Miller 6-9 245 Jr. 3.0 3.5
Texas Longhorns
Probable Starters (based on last game)
Name Ht. Wt. Yr. PPG RPG F 22 Brad Buckman 6-8 220 Fr. 6.5 5.4 C 0 James Thomas 6-8 235 Jr. 10.6 11.2 G 3 Brandon Mouton 6-4 205 Jr. 13.9 4.3 G 11 T.J. Ford 5-10 165 So. 14.2 7.3 ^ G 24 Royal Ivey 6-3 192 Jr. 8.6 3.1 ^ denotes assists per game
Quickly
Oklahoma State will host the Texa Longhorns on Saturday, Feb. 22, inside Gallagher-Iba Arena. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m. Oklahoma State is 19-5 overall and 8-3 in Big 12 Conference action, coming off a 64-48 loss at Oklahoma on Wednesday night. Texas is 18-4 overall, 9-2 in league play after a 77-65 win over Texas Tech Monday night in Austin.
Rankings
Oklahoma State is ranked 16th in both the Associated Press poll and the USA Today/ESPN Coaches poll. The Cowboys are ranked 13th in the Ratings Percentage Index according to Collegiate Basketball News. Texas is ranked third in AP poll and fourth in the USA Today poll. The Longhorns are ranked No. 1 in the RPI.
On Television
Saturday's game will be broadcast by ESPN Regional as part of the Big 12 Conference's television package. In Oklahoma City, the game can be seen on KOCB-TV 34, while in Tulsa, it will be shown on KJRH-TV 2. In Stillwater, it will be on Cox Cable channel 11. Dave Armstrong will handle the play-by-play duties, while Paul Splittorff will provide expert analysis.
Last Time Out For OSU
The Cowboys shot just 28.6 percent, the third-lowest percentage in the Sutton era, as OSU fell to Oklahoma, 64-48, Wednesday night in the Lloyd Noble Center in Norman. Victor Williams scored 18 points and grabbed seven rebounds, but Ivan McFarlin was the only other Cowboy to score in double figures with 10. Meanwhile, Hollis Price scored 22, Kevin Bookout added 15 and 12 rebounds, and Ebi Ere chipped in 11 for the Sooners. OSU was 15-of-21 from the free throw line, but connected on just 16-of-56 shots from the floor, including 1-of-7 from three-point range. Oklahoma shot 40.8 percent, including 7-of-14 from beyond the arc. OSU led by as many as four points in the first period, but a 9-0 run and a pair of 5-0 runs put the Sooners up, 34-22, at halftime. Down 23 in with 13:04 remaining after a technical foul on Coach Sutton, the Cowboys went on a 10-0 spurt to cut the lead to 13, but Ere hit a trey and OU scored six straight to pull away.
About Texas
Texas is 18-4 overall and 9-2 in the Big 12 Conference, tied for second in the league. The Longhorns are led by sophomore sensation T.J. Ford, who is averaging 14.2 points and 7.3 assists per contest. Brandon Mouton is chipping in 13.9 points per game, while James Thomas is averaging a double-double with 10.6 points and 11.2 rebounds per contest. UT's only conference losses are to Kansas and Colorado, both on the road. Texas is averaging just under 80 points per game while allowing just over 67 points per contest. The `Horns are outrebounding their opponents by an average of nearly eight boards per game.
Last time out for the Longhorns
Brandon Mouton scored a game-high 21 points, including 6-of-8 from three-point range, as the Longhorns defeated Texas Tech, 77-65, Monday night in Austin. T.J. Ford added 15 points, seven assists and no turnovers in the game. The Red Raiders played without the services of the Big 12's leading scorer Andre Emmett, as well as Nick Valdez. The difference in the game was at the three-point line, where Texas connected on 10-of-20, while Tech was just 3-of-12. UT also outrebounded the Raiders, 41-34.
Series with the Longhorns: UT leads, 31-28
With the Longhorns 78-65 win over OSU earlier this season, Texas leads the all-time series with Oklahoma State, 31-28. The Cowboys are 12-10 all-time vs. the `Horns in Stillwater, although OSU has not won in Gallagher-Iba Arena against Texas since Jan. 19, 2000. For a complete look at the series, check out page 4-61 of the 2002-03 Oklahoma State Men's Basketball Media Guide.
Last time vs. Texas
Oklahoma State gave up its highest point total on the season as the Texas Longhorns defeated the Cowboys, 78-65, in Austin on Feb. 1. Victor Williams scored 22 points for OSU, Tony Allen added 15 and Ivan McFarlin chipped in 11, but the Cowboy defense allowed the `Horns to shoot nearly 51 percent from the floor and sent UT to the free-throw line 32 times. Texas also outrebounded OSU, 41-28. T.J. Ford and Royal Ivey led the Texas offense with 17 points each, while James Thomas scored 13 points and grabbed 16 boards. It was OSU's first conference loss of the season, and broke a 15-game winning streak by Oklahoma State.
Williams, Allen Honored
The National Association of Basketball Coaches named its Division I All-District teams on Thursday morning, and two Cowboys made the list. Senior guard Victor Williams and junior guard Tony Allen were both named to the second team of the NABC All-District 12 squad. The first team included Nick Collison and Kirk Hinrich, both of Kansas, Oklahoma's Hollis Price, Arthur Johnson of Missouri and Creighton's Kyle Korver. Others on the second team were Missouri's Rickey Paulding, Jake Sullivan of Iowa State and UMKC's Michael Watson. The individuals are selected and voted on by member coaches of the NABC, and the 150 student-athletes, from 15 districts, are now eligible for the NABC Division I All-America team to be announced at the conclusion of the 2002-03 basketball season.
Up Next: Texas Tech visits Gallagher-Iba Arena for Big Monday
Oklahoma State will host the Texas Tech Red Raiders (14-8, 4-7) on Monday, Feb. 24, inside the friendly confines of Gallagher-Iba Arena. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on ESPN as part of its Big Monday package. The Cowboys defeated the Red Raiders, 79-70, earlier this season in Lubbock.
Stifling Defense
Eddie Sutton has always preached solid defense, and while OSU's offense has struggled at times this season, the defense has been outstanding. Through 24 games, OSU is allowing 61.5 points per game, second-best in the league behind OU's 59.6, and has allowed an opponent to score in the 70s just six times this season. OSU is allowing its opponents to shoot just 38.8 percent from the floor, best in the conference. OSU is also averaging 9.29 steals per game (third in the Big 12 behind Kansas' 10.64 and Texas Tech's 9.32) and 5.62 blocks per contest (third in the league behind Colorado's 6.21 and Iowa State's 6.14).
Coming up Big on Offense
While Oklahoma State is well-known for its unbreakable defense, the Cowboy offense has been coming into its own. The Cowboys have three players that rank in the top-30 individually for scoring. Victor Williams ranks 13th at 15.5 points per game, while Tony Allen is 15th at 14.8 points per contest. Melvin Sanders is 24th at 13.2 ppg.
Vic Williams vying for spot on All-Big 12
Senior guard Victor Williams has been solid all season long, and has stepped up his game since conference play began. Overall this season, he is averaging 15.5 points per contest as well as 3.4 assists per game. However, through 11 league contests, those averages have gone up. Victor ranks sixth in the league in scoring, averaging 18.7 points per game. His assists average in league games is at 3.64 apg, 11th-best in the Big 12. He is tied for fourth in steals per game at 2.09, and his 77.3 percent shooting from the free-throw line ranks 10th in the league. Victor is shooting 45.9 percent from the floor and 38.8 percent from beyond the arc, which both rank 13th in the Big 12. His 1.73 three-point field goals made per game ranks 15th, and his 1.11 assist-to-turnover ratio also ranks 13th. That's eight statistical categories in which Vic ranks among the Big 12's best.
Vic Moves Into the Top 20
With 24 points vs. Texas Tech, senior Victor Williams became the 24th player in school history to record 1,000 points in a career. He surpassed Brooks Thompson, who had 996 points in his two-year career. Against Oklahoma, Vic scored 18 points, moving his OSU career total to 1,136 and 20th place on the all-time list. Victor surpassed Chianti Roberts, who had 1,129 career points, and needs five points to move past Raymond Crenshaw for 19th. Ten points would put Victor past Joe Atkinson and into 18th place on the career scoring list. Vic has 1,381 points in his career at the Division I level, including 245 as a freshman at Illinois State.
Williams Reaches 400 Assists in Career
With two assists vs. Oklahoma, Victor Williams has 318 dishes in his three-year career at Oklahoma State. That moves him past Bill Self, who had 317 assists for OSU from 1982-85. Victor now ranks 11th in the career assists category, and three assists would move him into the top 10 of all-time at Oklahoma State. Chianti Roberts had 320 in his four-year career at OSU. Vic has 421 career assists, including 103 his freshman season at Illinois State. Vic had a game-high nine vs. Texas A&M on Feb. 21, 2001, and a season-high 126 last season. He had a season-high eight dishes at Texas A&M. Victor currently has 82 assists this season, an average of 3.4 per game.
Allen Living up to Expectations
Junior transfer Tony Allen is doing it all for Oklahoma State. The 6-4 guard is second on the team in scoring, averaging 14.8 points per game this season, and is an all-around player for the Cowboys. He had a career-high 29 points vs. Texas A&M. He has made at least one three pointer in 16 of OSU's 24 games, and is shooting 43.9 percent (25-of-57) from beyond the arc. He had a career-high nine rebounds vs. Texas A&M in College Station, and had career bests in assists (7) and steals (5) vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. The Chicago native is averaging 5.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.0 steals per contest. Defensively, Tony is joining Melvin Sanders as one of the top stoppers on the squad. He limited A&M freshman phenom Antoine Wright to just 15 points on 14 shot attempts, and held OU's Ebi Ere to six points, 12 below his average, on 2-of-10 shooting in Stillwater.
Sanders the Stopper
Senior guard Melvin Sanders is one of the top defensive players in the league and perhaps the country. He is typically assigned to the opposing team's top offensive player, regardless of height, and should be considered for postseason honors based not only on his defensive presence, but his offensive output as well. Defensively, Melvin is as good as it gets.
Sanders the Scorer
Sanders showed his scoring abilities on last Saturday night, recording a career night vs. the Baylor Bears. He scored a career-high 30 points (his previous best was 18 points on four occasions) on 12-of-16 shooting (a career best with a minimum of 10 attempts). He was also 6-of-8 from beyond the three-point arc, the first time a Cowboy had made six treys in a game since Maurice Baker connected on seven vs. St. Gregory's on Jan. 20, 2001. For the year, Melvin has scored in double figures in 20 games, and has scored less than eight points only twice. He has already scored a career-best 316 points this season, and is averaging 13.2 points per contest.
Cowboys Host Block Parties
On two occasions this season, Oklahoma State has blocked 13 shots in a single game, the third-best mark in school history. OSU had 13 deflections vs. Hartford, and did the same at Wichita State. In the game against Kansas State, the Cowboys blocked 12 Wildcat attempts. This season, OSU has 135 blocked shots as a team, an average of 5.63 per game and the third-most in the Big 12 Conference behind Iowa State and with Colorado. OSU's total is already the most in a single season since the 1991-92 squad had 144.
Williams Elite Shot Blocker
Andre Williams has 195 career blocks, and has surpassed Bryant Reeves for third place on the school's all-time career blocked shots list. He leads the team with 66 deflections so far this season, and his block total this year ties for fourth on the school's all-time single-season blocked shots chart, tying Byron Houston's total in 1990. Andre had a career-high eight deflections vs. Wichita State, and had seven vs. Kansas State. He is currently averaging 2.75 blocks per game this season, and is second in the league behind Colorado's David Harrison.
A Trio of Thieves
Oklahoma State has 223 steals this season, led by Victor Williams' 54. Tony Allen has 47, while Melvin Sanders has 40. Those three Cowboys rank second, fourth and eighth, respectively, in the Big 12 in steals per game. Kansas is the only other school in the league that has two individuals in the Top Eight. As a team, OSU is third in the league, averaging 9.29 thefts per contest.
Sanders Has String of Starts
Cowboy senior Melvin Sanders has started every game of his Cowboy career, and has moved into fifth-place on the consecutive starts list. Sanders next start will tie him with Bryant Reeves, who started 87 consecutive contests from 1993-95. Two starts would tie Melvin with Darwyn Alexander, and three starts would tie him with Adrian Peterson for second place. Five starts would move Melvin into sole possession of second-place on the consecutive-starts list.
Miscellaneous Notes
The Cowboys have shot better from the charity stripe away from Gallagher-Iba Arena (73.9 percent) than at home (59.2 percent) ... Oklahoma State has 63 dunks this season, led by Melvin Sanders' 20 ... OSU has taken 13 charges in 24 games, led by Ivan McFarlin's six ... OSU has limited its opponents to less than 70 points on 266 occasions in the Eddie Sutton era, or 64.9 percent of the games ... The Cowboys are 15-0 when leading at halftime this season; 4-5 when trailing at intermission ... Since Gallagher-Iba Arena was renovated prior to the 2000-01 season, Oklahoma State has had 456,957 fans attend 39 games, an average of 11,717 per contest.
Sutton Surpasses Haskins on List
Oklahoma State's win over Kansas State on February 5 gave Coach Eddie Sutton his 720th career victory, moving him into sole possession of 13th place on the all-time career wins list. He surpassed Don Haskins, who had 719 wins, all at Texas-El Paso, and played his collegiate basketball at Oklahoma A&M under legendary coach Mr. Iba. The Miners coach for 38 years had a 719-353 career record. Coach Sutton, in his 33rd season overall, is 721-282. Include that with Mr. Iba's 767 career wins, and that's three coaches with OSU ties that have a combined 2,207 career victories.
Sutton Coaches 1,000th Career Game
Oklahoma State Coach Eddie Sutton became the 17th coach in Division I history to coach in his 1,000th career game when the Cowboys hosted Kansas State on February 5. Jacksonville coach Hugh Durham became the 18th coach in NCAA history to have achieved that mark 10 days later, including Sutton's mentor, Henry Iba, who coached in 1,105 games. Coach Sutton surpassed Gene Bartow (1,000 games coached) for 15th place on the all-time games coached list when the Cowboys played at Cincinnati. By season's end, Coach Sutton will surpass legendary Kansas coach Phog Allen, who coached in 1,010 career games.
RPI Rankings
Oklahoma State ranks 13th in the Ratings Percentage Index, according to Collegiate Basketball News, and has beaten five top-50 teams and is 10-5 vs. the top 100. With five games remaining on the regular-season schedule, two are against teams ranked in the top 11. Oklahoma State has three games vs. teams ranked between No. 49 and 55, and two of those three are in the friendly confines of Gallagher-Iba Arena.
Friday, June 05
Friday, May 29
Wednesday, May 27
Monday, May 18
