Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboys Face Tigers In Columbia
February 23, 2004 | Cowboy Basketball
Oklahoma State (21-2, 11-1) faces
Missouri (13-10, 7-5) in Columbia
Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2004 • 7:05 p.m.
Hearnes Center • Columbia, Mo.
radio - Cowboy Radio Network • internet - okstate.com • TV - ESPN+
Cowboys face Tigers
Oklahoma State travels to Columbia, Mo., this week for a game with the Missouri Tigers on Tuesday, Feb. 24. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. OSU is 21-2 overall this season and 11-1 in Big 12 Conference action, coming off an 87-83 overtime thriller over Nebraska Saturday in Stillwater. Mizzou is 13-10 overall, 7-5 in league play and coming off a 70-66 win over Baylor in Waco on Saturday. Prior to the release of the polls on Monday, the Cowboys are ranked seventh in both the Associated Press and the USA Today/ESPN Coaches polls. Missouri, ranked as high as No. 4 in both polls earlier in the year, is not ranked in either poll.
Graham named Big 12 ROW
Joey Graham was named the Big 12 Conference's Rookie of the Week for his performance in two games last week. His 36 points vs. Nebraska are the most by a Big 12 player this season, and ties for the most by a Cowboy junior in school history.
On television
Tuesday's game between Oklahoma State and Missouri will be televised live by ESPN Regional, part of the Big 12 Conference's television package. Dave Armstrong will handle the play-by-play duties, while Jon Sundvold will provide expert analysis. A list of selected regional outlets that will carry the game can be located elsewhere in this release.
Allen, Lucas named All-District
Senior Tony Allen and junior John Lucas were both named first-team All-District 12 by the National Association of Basketball Coaches, it was announced last Wednesday afternoon. That gave the Cowboys two players on the first team of their respective all-district team, one of 10 teams in the country to share that distinction. Both players are now listed as candidates for the NABC's All-America teams.
Last time out
It took overtime and 36 points from Joey Graham, and the Cowboys were able to pull out an 87-83 win over Nebraska Saturday night in Gallagher-Iba Arena. Graham was 12-of-19 from the floor, including a perfect 3-of-3 from long range, as well as 9-of-11 from the charity stripe. Ivan McFarlin added 16 points and 10 rebounds for his first double-double in nine games, and John Lucas also had 16 points to go along with his seven assists. OSU shot just 42.3 percent and allowed 53.6 percent shooting by the Huskers, but the Cowboys forced 15 turnovers, and scored 19 points off those miscues. The Pokes also outscored NU, 19-7, on second-chance points, thanks to an 18-7 rebounding edge on the offensive glass. OSU was also 22-of-27 from the line, or 81.5 percent.
Joey's performance special
Joey Graham scored a career-high 36 points vs. the Huskers Saturday night. It was the second-most points ever by a Cowboy in Gallagher-Iba Arena, behind only Bob Kurland's school record 58 points vs. St. Louis on Feb. 22, 1946. It also ties the school record for points scored by a Cowboy junior, set by Ronnie Daniel vs. Villanova on Dec. 20, 1974.
About Missouri
Missouri is 13-10 overall this season, including a 7-5 mark in Big 12 Conference action. The Tigers are 9-3 at home, losing to Belmont, 71-67, in December, Syracuse, 82-68, in mid-January, and to Texas in overtime, 75-69, on Jan. 20. Mizzou is led by senior guard Rickey Paulding, who is averaging 15.2 points per game. Senior forward/center Arthur Johnson is scoring 14 points and grabbing 7.3 rebounds per contest, and Travon Bryant is chipping in 10.9 points per contest. The Tigers are without freshman sensation Linas Kleiza, who was averaging 11.1 points and 8.4 boards per game. As a team, Missouri is averaging 73.4 points per game, outscoring its opponents by an average of 3.1 points per contest. The Tigers have a -1.3 turnover margin, and are allowing opponents to shoot 43.3 percent from the floor, including 38.7 percent from beyond the three-point arc. MU has won its last four games by an average of 15.5 points per contest.
Series history
Missouri leads the all-time series with Oklahoma State by a 69-37 margin, including a 41-6 mark in Columbia. Since Coach Sutton's return to Stillwater, the Tigers have a 12-10 edge on OSU. However, since the Big 12 formed in 1996-97, the Pokes have a 5-3 edge of Missouri. MU won the last meeting, a 60-58 win in last year's Big 12 Tournament, and the Tigers also won the last meeting in Columbia, 72-69, two years ago. OSU has won six of the last nine meetings, including two of the last four in the Hearnes Center.
