Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboys Travel to Columbia to Face Missouri
February 29, 2008 | Cowboy Basketball
Oklahoma State (14-12, 5-7)
at Missouri (16-12, 5-7)
Tuesday, Feb. 26 • 8 p.m.
Mizzou Arena • Columbia, Mo.
Series History • Missouri leads, 72-38
Last Meeting • Feb. 17, 2007, in Stillwater
Outcome • Missouri won, 75-64
Last Meeting in Columbia • Jan. 7, 2006
Outcome • Missouri won, 69-61
Television — ESPN U
Play-by-Play • Dave Armstrong
Analyst • Jon Sundvold
Stillwater
SuddenLink Cable Ch. 135
Oklahoma City
Cox Cable Channel 253
Tulsa
Cox Cable Channel 253
Radio — Cowboy Radio Network
Play-by-Play • Dave Hunziker
Analyst • John Holcomb
Sideline Reporter • Bryndon Manzer
Flagship Station — KSPI (93.7 FM)
XM satellite radio — Ch. 242
Quick Notes
• Of Oklahoma State’s nine players seeing regular court time, five are freshmen, and another, sophomore Obi Muonelo, has played just 42 games in his career after missing half of last season with an injury. Nearly 40 percent (51 of 130) of the starts this season have been by true freshmen.
• After winning four of its last five games, Oklahoma State is now just one game out of fourth place in the Big 12 standings. Three weeks ago, OSU was on a six-game losing streak and tied with Colorado for last place.
• Over the past six seasons, Oklahoma State is 6-4 in the game following a win over a top-10 team. That includes a 76-56 win over No. 11 Missouri after defeating fifth-ranked Oklahoma the game before in 2002-03.
• Oklahoma State is 0-2 on ESPNU. The two OSU games that have been televised by ESPNU were the Cowboys’ two NIT appearances over the last two seasons.
• OSU is 2-2 vs. Big 12 North Division foes this season. The Cowboys lost at Iowa State and at Kansas State, while defeating Colorado and Kansas at home.
Series with the Tigers
• Saturday’s game will mark the 111th battle between these two teams on the hardwood, including the 50th in Columbia.
• Missouri has won five of the last seven meetings, although Oklahoma State is 7-6 against the Tigers in the last 13 contests.
• The Cowboys’ last win in Columbia came in 2000, when OSU handed Mizzou an 84-72 loss in the Hearnes Center.
• Oklahoma State lost 17 straight in Columbia from 1979 until 1996. The Cowboys have won two of the last six at Missouri.
• The current members of the squad have not seen much action against Missouri. Byron Eaton and Terrel Harris have each played two games against the Tigers, while Marcus Dove and Tyler Hatch both played in last year’s game.
Over the Last Five Games
• Oklahoma State has won four of its last five games, including a one-point victory over No. 4 Kansas and a five-point win over No. 16 Texas A&M.
• The A&M win in College Station ended a 19-game road-losing streak.
• In the last five games, the Cowboys have made more free throws (104) than the opponents have attempted (100).
• During that time span, OSU is shooting 74.8 percent from the free-throw line and 32-of-81 (39.5 percent) from three-point range.
• Excluding the Kansas State loss, the Cowboys have made 13 more free throws (87) than the opponents have attempted (74).
• They have also outrebounded the foes by nearly two rebounds per game and forced nine more turnovers than they’ve committed.
• In the last four victories, OSU has shot 40 percent (24 of 60) from beyond the arc while allowing the opponents to shoot just 31.3 (21 of 67) percent.
Defense Stepping Up
• Comparatively speaking, Oklahoma State’s “D” has improved dramatically since Big 12 Conference play started.
• OSU’s scoring defense for all games (66.2 points allowed per game) is actually 6/10ths of a point lower than its scoring defense for conference-games only (66.8), yet the Cowboys’ ranking has improved during league games.
• The Cowboys’ scoring defense for all games ranks ninth in the league, while it’s scoring defense for league games only ranks third.
• Oklahoma State allowed an average of 76 points in 16 Big 12 games last season, 9.2 points higher than this year’s average.
• OSU has given up 80 points or more just twice in the last 17 games, and one of those was in a 93-83 win over Baylor in Stillwater.
• Twelve of the last 16 opponents have been held to under 70 points.
Pick Pockets
• Oklahoma State is averaging 8.69 steals per game this season which currently ranks as the third-highest average in school history.
• The school record is 9.03 set during the 1988-89 season. The 2002-03 Cowboys averaged 8.94 steals per game.
• OSU ranks second in the Big 12 in steals behind Kansas (9.15 steals/game).
• The Pokes had 18 steals during the Prairie View A&M game, the second most in school history. They had 12 at halftime, establishing a school record for steals in a single period.
Eaton Establishes New Record
• Junior guard Byron Eaton has established a new school record for career steals. Entering the Missouri game, he has 179 career thefts.
• He is just the fifth Cowboy in school history to have at least 10 games with four or more steals in a career.
• Eaton is only the seventh Cowboy to have recorded at least 300 assists and 150 steals in a career.
Dove Swatting Shots
• Senior Marcus Dove has 96 career blocked shots and moved past Desmond Mason and into seventh place on the school list.
• Dove is just the fifth Cowboy in school history to record at least 100 steals and 75 blocked shots in a career. He has 129 and 96, respectively.
• Should Dove reach 100 blocked shots (he needs four more entering Tuesday’s game vs. Missouri), he would become just the fourth Cowboy in school history to have 100 steals and 100 blocked shots.
From Long Range
• Oklahoma State is averaging 21.1 attempts from beyond the three-point arc this season. The school record is 18.9 attempts per game in 1998-99.
• The Cowboys are averaging 7.23 makes from long range this year. The school record is 7.59 during the 1993-94 season.
• The Cowboys attempted 34 three-point shots against North Texas, the most in school history.
• As a team, Oklahoma State has attempted 30 or more shots from beyond the arc on five occasions all-time, including three times this season.
• On the flip side, OSU limited Texas A&M-Corpus Christi to just 1-of-18 shots from three-point range, establishing a Gallagher-Iba Arena record with at least 10 attempts. The previous low was 1-of-17 by Baylor on Jan. 20, 1999.
• The Pokes held Northwestern State to 1-of-16 makes from long range and limited Texas Tech to just 1-of-8 shooting from beyond the arc.
Freshman Phenom
• With 12 points at Texas Tech, James Anderson became just the ninth Cowboy freshman in school history to score 300 points in his rookie season.
• He has already secured the record for most treys made (57) and attempted (147) by a frosh in school history. JamesOn Curry was 45-of-104 in his inaugural season and held the previous record for both categories.
• Anderson moved past Ivan McFarlin and into fourth place on the season scoring list for freshmen. He did it in eight fewer games. Anderson needs three points to move past Corey Williams and 23 to surpass Byron Houston for second place on the list.
• In his first official game in an OSU uniform, Anderson scored a game-high 29 points, tying the school record for most points by a freshman. Byron Houston had 29 against Kansas State on Jan. 25, 1989.
• Anderson’s 29 points were also the fourth-most by any Cowboy in a season opener, regardless of class.
Other Rookies Stepping Up
• Freshmen posts Ibrahima Thomas and Martavius Adams have been stepping up for the Cowboys.
• Over the last 16 games — all starts — the 6-11 rookie is averaging 6.8 points and 4.9 rebounds per game.
• In his first 10 games, the Senegal native was averaging 4.1 points and 2.9 rebounds per contest.
• Adams played a career-high 30 minutes against Kansas and, over the last five games, is averaging 17.4 minutes per game.
• During that span, he is averaging 5.8 points and 3.4 rebounds per contest.
• Prior to the last five games, he was averaging just 2.3 points and 1.8 rebounds per game.
Harris, Eaton Like the Freebies
• Terrel Harris is currently shooting 84 percent, just 5/10,000ths of a point behind Baylor’s LaceDarius Dunn who leads the league in free-throw shooting.
• Byron Eaton is third in the Big 12 Conference in free-throw shooting, connecting on 83.4 percent.
• Eaton was 14 of 16 from the free-throw line against Baylor and 16 of 18 vs. Kansas.
• It was the most free-throws made in a game by a Cowboy since Rick Anderson made 17 at Kansas on Feb. 6, 1985. It was the most attempts by a Poke since Bryant Reeves attempted 19 vs. Missouri on Jan. 22, 1995.
Cowboys No. 2 in Big 12 in Steals
• Oklahoma State averages 8.69 steals per game, the second-highest average of any Big 12 team this season.
• Kansas leads the league, averaging 9.15 per contest.
• Missouri is fourth in the Big 12, averaging 8.52 thefts per game.
Three Cowboys Rank in the top-10
• Three Cowboys are ranked in the top-10 individually in the Big 12 Conference in steals per game.
• Kansas’ Mario Chalmers leads the league, averaging 2.38 steals per game.
• Byron Eaton is second with 2.23 steals per game. Marcus Dove is fifth at 1.96 per game.
• Terrel Harris ranks eighth with 1.58 per contest.
Cowboys Third in Long-Range Shooting
• Oklahoma State averages 7.23 three-pointers made per game, the third-highest average of any Big 12 team this season.
• Baylor leads the league, averaging 8.77 treys per contest.
• Texas is second in the Big 12, averaging 7.63 three-pointers per game.
• Missouri is fourth, averaging 6.85 treys per game.
Sutton Wins and Wins Big
• In just two seasons, Sean Sutton already ranks seventh in school history for coaching victories with 36.
• Sutton won four games over ranked opponents in his first season as the head coach, including victories over two top-10 foes. He is now 6-9 vs. ranked teams, including 3-4 vs. top-10 opponents.
• His Cowboys were ranked as high as No. 9 in the polls in his initial season.
• Sutton has been involved with the Cowboy Basketball program for 17 seasons, including two as a player, 13 as an assistant to his father and two as the head coach.
• During that span, OSU has compiled a 384-167 record.
• While Sutton has been a member of the coaching staff, Oklahoma State has turned out three All-Americans, 44 all-conference selections and 20 academic all-league honorees.
• OSU has made 12 NCAA Tournament appearances, including six Sweet 16s, three Elite Eights and two Final Fours.
OSU Among Best in Big 12
• Oklahoma State is one of three school in the Big 12 that has won at least 100 games over the past five seasons.
• Only Kansas and Texas have more victories.
• OSU’s .679 winning percentage ranks third in the league as well.
• The Cowboys’ 2004 Final Four appearance is the last by a Big 12 squad.
• Only OSU, Kansas and Texas have two Sweet 16 appearances in the last five seasons.
