Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboys upset No. 3 Longhorns, 82-77
April 10, 2003 | Cowboy Basketball
The Cowboys had three frontcourt players foul out, but Victor Williams and his fellow guards made enough plays down the stretch to give them an 82-77 victory in a game they couldn't afford to lose.
Williams, who missed eight minutes of the second half after picking up his fourth foul, made a big 3-pointer and added four free throws in the final 30 seconds as the Cowboys ended a two-game losing streak.
Texas, arguably the deepest and most talented team in the conference, nearly erased a 15-point deficit but came up short despite a career-high 32 points from T.J. Ford.
James Thomas had 21 points and 17 rebounds, and Brandon Mouton scored 19 points for the Longhorns, who closed within a point in the second half but never did take the lead again after making the first basket of the game.
Williams scored 13 points and Melvin Sanders, who finished with 19, had a dozen as the Cowboys shot 60.7 percent in the first half including 9-of-17 from 3-point range.
They twice led by 15 before settling for a 14-point cushion at halftime. Texas wasn't shabby, either, shooting 52 percent, but Oklahoma State was able to get open shots and knock them down three days after shooting a season-low 28 percent in a loss to No. 5 Oklahoma.
Texas got within 76-73 on a tip-in by Thomas with 1:40 remaining, then made it 76-74 on a free throw by Ford with 50 seconds left.
Williams made two free throws for a 78-74 lead with 21 seconds to go, and after Ford missed a short jumper, Williams got fouled again and made both free throws with 8.6 seconds left.
Ford banked in a 3 with 3.4 seconds left to make it 80-77 and Cheyne Gadson sealed the victory with two free throws with 2.6 seconds remaining.
