Cowboys Fall to Virginia Tech, 56-51

Friday, November 26

Anaheim, CA

1:30 PM

Oklahoma State University

Virginia Tech

November 26, 2010 | Cowboy Basketball

Nov. 26, 2010

Final Stats | Photo Gallery

Anaheim, Calif. -- Jean-Paul Olukemi scored a game-high 17 points and Marshall Moses added 14 points and 12 rebounds, but Oklahoma State could not overcome several missed layup opportunities and fell to the Virginia Tech Hokies 56-51 here Friday afternoon in the 76 Classic.

Virginia Tech took an early 7-2 lead and led by six at 24-18 with eight minutes left to go in the first half. However, the Cowboys went on a 11-2 run to end the period and took a 29-26 lead into the locker room despite missing 11 shots from the floor.

The game went back and forth throughout most of the second half as there were three ties and four lead changes. OSU led by seven at 45-38 with six minutes to go in the game when Ray Penn connected on a jumper. But, the Hokies went on a 10-3 run and tied it up with 2:27 remaining at 48-all.

Oklahoma State was called for six fouls in the final 2-1/2 minutes of the game and Virginia Tech made 10-of-12 free throws in that time span to finish off the Cowboys.

OSU missed eight layups in the game and scored just 18 points in the paint, half their season average of 36. The Hokies also made as many free throws (20-of-31) as the Cowboys attempted (14-of-20).

Senior forward Matt Pilgrim was called for a flagrant foul and ejected from the game at the 13:56 mark of the second half after his elbow connected with a Virginia Tech player. Victor Davila was called for a similar foul just two minutes and 50 seconds later, but was allowed to stay in the game. The new rule became a point of emphasis according to the NCAA Men's Basketball Rules Committee this summer. Any elbow thrown above the shoulder is now automatically a flagrant foul and the offender is ejected from the contest.

With Oklahoma State down to two regular post players, Jarred Shaw saw limited action and Roger Franklin was forced to enter the game when Moses began bleeding from a cut on his arm. It was Franklin's first action of the season after suffering from a lower leg injury.

Oklahoma State (4-1) will face the loser of the Murray State/UNLV game on Sunday at 5 pm CT (3 pm PT). That game will be televised on ESPNU.