Cowboys Go Inside To Pull Away From Tigers In Exhibition Play

Friday, November 6

Stillwater, OK

7 p.m.

Oklahoma State University

1-0

East Central

0-1

Team	1	2	F
East Central	29	37	66
Oklahoma State	37	57	94

Cowboys Go Inside To Pull Away From Tigers In Exhibition Play

November 06, 2015 | Cowboy Basketball

Box Score

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Postgame Quotes

STILLWATER – The Oklahoma State basketball team went to the paint in the second half to run away from East Central, 94-66, in an exhibition game at Gallagher-Iba Arena on Friday night.

The Cowboys, who open the season at home on Nov. 13 against UT Martin, went into the break with just four points in the paint and a 37 percent shooting clip, but came out of the locker room with a new philosophy – go inside.

OSU scorched the Tigers for 28 points on the low block in the closing frame. The Cowboys out-scored ECU by 20 in the second half, 57-37, thanks to 63.3 percent shooting.

Tyree Griffin, who earned the start at point guard, led four Cowboys in double figures with 12 points. Phil Forte, who made his first three 3-pointers, tallied 11 points, as did Jeff Newberry and Chris Olivier.

Newberry just missed what would have been his first career double-double had this been an actual game. The senior posted nine rebounds to lead all OSU players.

Ishmael Donzo led the Tigers in scoring and rebounding with 10 points and 10 boards.

Individual Quick Hitters
• Jeff Newberry just missed out on what would have been his first career double-double had this been an official game. The senior tallied 11 points and a career-high nine rebounds. His previous career high in rebounds is six against Texas Tech last season.
• Chris Olivier, a senior, made his debut in an OSU uniform, and reached double-figures with 11 points.
• Tyree Griffin earned the start at point guard and racked up a game-high 12 points, which would have eclipsed his previous career high of 11 points against Prairie View A&M last season.
• Anthony Allen dished out three assists on the night, which also would have been a career high. The senior's previous high was two dimes on two occasions, last against Maryland.
• Mitchell Solomon entered the exhibition game with a career-high of four points, but nearly reached double-figures with nine points.
• Davon Dillard and Igor Ibaka also saw their first action at OSU. Dillard tallied seven points, and Ibaka had two points and three boards.
• Codey McElroy splashed home a corner three pointer in his first appearance at Gallagher-Iba. In fact, it was his first competative basketball game since high school.
• OSU sophomore Jeffrey Carroll celebrated his 21st birthday against East Central.

Cowboy Team Notes
• OSU tallied just four points in the paint in the opening half, but went to the low block early and often in the second. The Cowboys scored 28 in the paint in the closing frame and 32 overall on the night.
• Eigth Cowboys scored at least five points against ECU.
• OSU raced out to an 11-0 lead, and made four of its first five shots.
• The Cowboys blocked six shots in the first half, including three from OSU newcomer Chris Olivier.
• The Cowboys have now won 28 consecutive exhibition games dating back to Nov. 9, 2000 (Athletes First 96, OSU 95 in Enid, Okla.).
• Oklahoma State is 55-4 in exhibition tilts since 1973, including a 50-1 record since the 1989-90 season.
• OSU has reached the century mark 19 times in exhibition games, including five times under Travis Ford.
• OSU is 13-0 in exhibition games under Travis Ford.
• Tonight's attendance was 3,198.

Next Up
• The Cowboys open the 107th season of OSU basketball next Friday, Nov. 13 against UT Martin in Gallagher-Iba Arena. The game will be broadcast on Fox Sports-Plus and the Cowboy Radio Network. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m.