Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboys Travel To Austin To Face Longhorns
January 23, 2004 | Cowboy Basketball
Oklahoma State (13-2, 3-1) faces Texas (12-2, 3-0)
in Big 12 Basketball action
Saturday, Jan. 24, 2004 • 3:01 p.m.
Erwin Events Center • Austin, Texas
radio - Cowboy Radio Network • internet - okstate.com • TV - ESPN+
Cowboys face Longhorns
Oklahoma State travels to Austin, Texas, this weekend for a showdown with the Texas Longhorns on Saturday, Jan. 24. Tipoff is set for 3:01 p.m., and the game can be televised by ESPN Regional. The Cowboys are 13-2 overall, 3-1 in Big 12 Conference action after a thrilling 71-62 victory over Colorado Wednesday night in Stillwater. Texas is 12-2 overall, 3-0 in league play and coming off a 75-69 win over Missouri in overtime in Columbia on Tuesday night.
On television
Saturday's game will be televised by ESPN Regional, part of the Big 12 Conference's television package. Fred White will handle the play-by-play duties, while Paul Splittorff will provide color analysis. Specific listings for certain areas can be found elsewhere in this release.
Last time out
Tony Allen scored a game-high 19 points, including two impressive driving layups as the game was winding down, and the Cowboys slipped past Colorado, 71-62, Wednesday night in Big 12 Conference action in Gallagher-Iba Arena. A crowd of 11,839 saw a 30-30 halftime tie, and the Buffaloes ahead by four at 54-50 after a 9-0 run by CU. However, Allen, who was 0-of-4 from long range, took control and led the Cowboys to victory. John Lucas had 15 points and five assists with no turnovers, his third game this season with at least three assists and no turnovers. The Pokes shot just 25.7 percent from the floor in the first half, but bounced back to shoot 15-of-27 in the second stanza. Oklahoma State also outrebounded the much taller Buffs, 41-36, and forced 19 CU turnovers. The Cowboys, who were 19-of-29 from the free-throw line, did make the last seven attempts from the charity stripe to seal the win. The OSU bench was vital in the victory, as the Cowboy bench outscored that of Colorado, 17-7, including six points each from Jason Miller and David Monds. Both were 3-of-4 from the field, and combined for nine rebounds in 27 minutes.
Lucas named Big 12 Conference Player of the Week
Junior guard John Lucas earned Big 12 Conference Player of the Week honors for his efforts in two wins last week. Against No. 11 Oklahoma, he scored 22 points and dished out four assists. At Kansas State, he scored 20 points and had four assists with one turnover. He shot 51.6 percent from the floor and 6-of-12 from beyond the three-point arc.
About Texas
Texas is 12-2 overall this season and 3-0 in Big 12 Conference action. The Longhorns are ranked 14th in the latest USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll and 16th in the Associated Press Poll. UT is led by freshman phenom P.J. Tucker, who is averaging 13.5 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, both leading the team. Senior Brandon Mouton is second on the squad, averaging 12.8 points per contest, while Royal Ivey and Brian Boddicker are chipping in 11.1 and 10.1 points per game, respectively. As a team, Texas leads the league in scoring, averaging 87 points per contest. The ‘Horns are outscoring their opponents by an average of 16.7 points per game. UT is shooting 45.8 percent from the floor, including 36.7 percent from beyond the arc, and outrebounding its foes by an average of 11.4 boards per contest.
Series history
Texas leads the all-time series with Oklahoma State, 31-29, including a 16-11 mark in Austin over the Pokes. Since the Big 12 formed in 1996-97, the ‘Horns own a 12-5 edge in the series. However, OSU has won four of the last 10 meetings, including last year's 82-77 victory in Stillwater. Texas won the last meeting in Austin, 78-65.
On the road
While Saturday's game against Texas will only be Oklahoma State's fourth true road test of the season, it will be the Cowboys' third Big 12 road game in two weeks. OSU is 2-1 in away contests so far this season, including a 15-point victory at Arkansas and a one-point win at Kansas State last Saturday. On the road, Tony Allen is averaging 15.3 points per contest, while John Lucas is scoring 13.7 points per game. Ivan McFarlin is scoring 11.3 points per game, and grabbing eight rebounds per contest, as is Allen.
Offensive dominance
Oklahoma State's offense has been impressive this season. The Cowboys have scored at least 80 points in nine games this season, and are currently averaging 78.5 points per game, the second-best mark in the Big 12 Conference. The Cowboys have outscored their opponents by 30 or more points in six of their 15 games this season, and lead the league with a +18.5 scoring margin. OSU is shooting 51.8 percent as a team, which leads the Big 12. The Pokes' are connecting on 36.4 percent of their shots from beyond the three-point arc, which is fourth in the league. Oklahoma State has 263 assists on 452 made shots, an average of one assist for every 1.72 shots made. Compare that to last year, when the Cowboys had one assist for every 1.96 shots made.
Defensive pressure
While Oklahoma State's offense has been quite potent, the defense has also been playing well. The Cowboys are giving up just 60 points per game, the second-best mark in the league, while allowing 39.4 percent shooting from the floor and 31.9 percent shooting from beyond the three-point arc. The OSU defense has forced 287 turnovers, an average of 19.1 per contest (second-best mark in the Big 12) and scored an average of 21.3 points per game off those miscues. The defense has taken 18 charges as a team, led by Ivan McFarlin's eight. The Cowboys are second in the league in allowing rebounds, giving up just 31.3 boards per contest. OSU is also second in the league in steals, averaging 9.53 thefts per game.
Minimizing miscues
The Cowboys have made some dramatic improvements in their ball-handling skills this year as opposed to last season. In 2002-03, OSU had a +1.97 turnover margin when the season was complete. This year, the Pokes have a +4.53 turnover margin. Last season, Oklahoma State ranked 11th in the league in assist/turnover ratio at 0.86. This year, OSU is second in the league in the same category, averaging 1.20 assists for every turnover. The Pokes are second in the Big 12 in assists, averaging 17.53 dishouts per game. OSU was 10th in that category last year, averaging just 12.8 assists per contest. The Cowboys have 219 turnovers this season, an average of 14.6 per game, while forcing an average of 19.1 per contest.
Ivan ranks among school's best
Foward Ivan McFarlin, who grabbed double-figure rebounds in back-to-back games against Southeastern State and Arkansas, ranks among the best rebounders of all-time in OSU history. He became the 12th player in school history to record 600 boards when he grabbed eight vs. Colorado Wednesday night. He also moved into 11th place on the all-time rebounding list in that game. He needs 58 rebounds to move past Andre Williams and into 10th place on the school career list.
I-Mac moving up other career lists
With 13 points vs. SMU, McFarlin became the 40th player in school history to record 800 points in an OSU career. He now has 863 points in his career, ranking 34th on the all-time list. Ivan recorded his fourth double-double of the season and the 18th of his career with 13 points and 10 rebounds vs. the Mustangs. His 18 double-doubles ties him with Joe Atkinson and Don Youman for the fifth most in school history. Ivan has 93 career blocked shots, and sits in sixth place all-time in school history. Ivan recorded a career-best six blocks against Southeastern State. Leroy Combs sits in fifth place with 167 career blocked shots. Ivan needs 74 more deflections before catching the top five.
Lucas improving in all facets of the game
Junior John Lucas was named the Big 12 Conference's Player of the Week last week for his efforts in two league wins. He leads the league with his 3.21 assist/turnover ratio, and is second in the Big 12 Conference in assists per game, averaging 5.13 assists per contest. The 5-10 guard has 77 assists and just 24 turnovers in 15 games this season. He dished out a career-high 13 assists vs. SMU, recording his second double-double as a Poke. He also had 10 points against the Ponies. Against Southeastern State, he recorded his first double-double with 11 assists and 10 points. He has had double-figure scoring in 10 games this season, including a season-best 22 vs. Oklahoma. In the last eight games, he has 43 assists and just 10 turnovers. He leads the team in free-throw shooting at 87.1 percent. John made ESPN Sportscenter's top plays of the week for his midcourt heave against Arkansas just before halftime.
Bobik coming up big time
Junior transfer Daniel Bobik has been a pleasant surprise this season. The 6-4 guard from Newbury Park, Calif., was named the MVP of the Touchtone Energy All-College Classic. He is averaging 8.5 points per game this season, and is shooting 52.4 percent from the field. His long-range accuracy is just as impressive. He has made 23-of-51 shots from beyond the arc this season, good for 45.1 percent. That includes a 5-of-7 effort against Southeastern State and a 4-of-5 outing against SMU. He is fifth in the Big 12 Conference in three-point field-goal percentage, and 12th in three-point field goals made. Daniel has 49 assists in 15 games this season, surpassing his single-season best (34) while at BYU. In two seasons with the Cougars, Bobik averaged 5.2 points and 1.8 rebounds per game.
Allen one of league's best
Senior guard Tony Allen is one of the best players in the Big 12 Conference. The 6-4 Chicago, Ill., native currently ranks sixth in the league in scoring, averaging 15.9 points per game. He's also averaging 4.8 rebounds per contest and 3.1 assists per game. Tony has made more shots than anybody else on the team at 90, and is shooting 51.1 percent from the field. He scored a season-high 24 points against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, and also tied career bests in assists with seven and steals with five in that game. Tony scored 20 or more points for the third time this season with 20 vs. the Sooners, a game in which he connected on 9-of-13 shots from the floor.
Coming up
Oklahoma State will take the midweek off this week before returning to action next Saturday vs. the Texas Tech Red Raiders (15-2, 3-0). Game time is set for 8 p.m., and the game will be televised by ESPN Regional.
National rankings
As of Jan. 19, Oklahoma State ranks in the top-30 nationally in seven statistical categories. The Cowboys lead the country in field-goal percentage, shooting 52.8 percent from the floor. OSU is sixth in scoring margin, outscoring its opponents by an average of 19.1 points per game. The Pokes are 16th in assists per game, averaging 17.6 per contest. Oklahoma State is 20th in won-loss percentage at 85.7 percent, and 23rd in scoring defense, allowing 59.9 points per game. The Cowboys are 30th in both scoring offense, scoring 79 points per contest, and 30th in field-goal percentage defense, allowing a 39.2 percent shooting average from the floor.
On television
Saturday's game against Texas will be televised by ESPN Regional as part of the Big 12 Conference's television package. Fred White will handle the play-by-play duties, while Paul Splittorff will provide color commentary. Next Saturday's game against Texas Tech will feature Dave Armstrong handling the play-by-play duties and Matt Doherty providing expert analysis.
