Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State University
Dillard University (La.)
Cowboys Outrun Dillard (La.), 97-55
November 10, 2009 | Cowboy Basketball
Nov. 10, 2009
Stillwater, Okla. — Despite being under the weather, Cowboy junior James Anderson scored 28 points, leading four Oklahoma State players in double figures as OSU defeated Dillard (La.) 97-55 in the final exhibition game heading into the regular season. Junior transfer Matt Pilgrim recorded his second double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds in the lopsided victory.
“Tonight was a step forward," said head coach Travis Ford following the game. "We still have a lot of steps to climb, but it was definitely better than the other night. As much as I was disappointed the other night about the turnovers and free throws, I was just as equally disappointed in our energy level. I was disappointed watching film and seeing that our bench wasn't into the game. I thought we improved a little bit on those little things tonight. I thought Marshall (Moses) and Matt (Pilgrim) played better together tonight. It was overall a better job for us tonight, but we still have a long way to go if we're going to compete on Saturday."
Eight different players got on the scoreboard in the first half, led by Anderson's 15 points. The Cowboy defense also recorded 13 steals prior to intermission which would be a school record had this been a regular-season game. OSU took a 22-point lead into the lockerroom after limiting Dillard to just 33.3 percent shooting in the first period.
Three more players made the scorebook in the second half, including Jarred Shaw who had two thunderous dunks, three rebounds and a blocked shot in just seven minutes. Walk-on Garrett Thomas also drilled a three from the corner with about 30 seconds remaining in the game, bringing an uproar from the fans.
Freshmen guards Ray Penn and Reger Dowell each scored 10 points, and four freshmen combined for 13 of the Cowboys' 20 steals in the contest, forcing the Bleu Devils into 28 turnovers. OSU shot 54.1 percent from the floor, but just 64 percent from the charity stripe.
"I thought Dillard had a little more talent than Central Oklahoma and was a better team because they'd played together a little bit longer," Ford said. "One thing I told these guys after that first exhibition game was that this can be a positive if you learn something from it. If you learn from this it will help you. Because you should be embarrassed. We all were. What better way to learn than to learn from adversity and that's what they did. They did a better job. We have a long way to go, but they did a better job."
Oklahoma State will open the regular season on Saturday as the Cowboys host Seattle in a 1:30 p.m. tipoff inside Gallagher-Iba Arena.
