Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State University
Syracuse
Oklahoma State conquers Syracuse in Jimmy V Classic 72-68
December 06, 2006 | Cowboy Basketball
The Cowboys (10-0) kept Sean Sutton's record as a head coach perfect despite blowing almost all of a 13-point lead over the final 3:45.
Syracuse freshman Paul Harris almost made his Madison Square Garden debut a memorable one as he led the comeback by the Orange (7-2), scoring nine of his 11 points over the final 3:45.
JamesOn Curry of Oklahoma State had 20 points, including the 3-pointer from the top of the key with 22 seconds left that ended Syracuse's 12-0 run that had wiped out all but one point of a 67-54 lead.
Demetris Nichols had 26 points for the Orange, who lost their second straight game.
Boggan's driving flip with 3:55 left capped the Cowboys' second 9-0 run of the second half and made it 67-54.
Oklahoma State was able to take the double-digit lead in the second half as Syracuse committed 17 of its 23 turnovers over the final 20 minutes.
The Cowboys' first 9-0 run gave them a 56-46 lead with 9:12 left, but the Orange were able to recover and got within 58-54 on a rebound basket by Terrence Roberts with 7:29 to go.
Syracuse again couldn't take care of the ball and committed four turnovers in the second 9-0 run.
That's when Harris, the highly recruited 6-foot-5 guard took over the Garden.
His driving dunk with 2:28 to go made it 67-60 and the Orange suddenly had some life as Oklahoma State went cold from the field. He grabbed a miss by Curry and drove the length of the court to make it 67-66 with 49 seconds to go.
Curry hit his big shot 27 seconds later and Oklahoma State held on.
Freshman Obi Muonelo had 11 points for Oklahoma State, his 10th game in double figures.
Roberts had 14 points for Syracuse, which was outrebounded 33-23, including 13-6 on the offensive end.
The Jimmy V Classic raises money for The V Foundation for Cancer Research, which was founded in 1993 by the late Jim Valvano and ESPN. The foundation has raised more than $60 million with the Jimmy V Classic donating more than $1 million.
On Tuesday, it was announced the Classic, which moved to Madison Square Garden in 2003, will continue to be played there through 2008.
Valvano, who led North Carolina State to the national championship in 1983, died of cancer in May 1993, just two months after delivering his famous ``Don't Give Up, Don't Ever Give Up'' speech at the ESPY Awards.
