Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboy Basketball Falls To Italians In European Tour Opener
August 07, 2018 | Cowboy Basketball
• Final Box Score
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VICENZA, Italy – Cameron McGriff posted 15 points and nine rebounds and Thomas Dziagwa and Isaac Likekele added 13 points each, but the Oklahoma State basketball team fell in its European tour opener, 99-72, to the Italian National Team's "B" squad.
The Italian team, consisting of professional players in Italy's Serie A and Serie B, shot 51 percent from the floor (36-of-70) and 48 percent (14-of-29) from 3-point. Andrea Pecchia, a fourth-year pro with Remer Treviglio, led five Italians in double figures with 17 points.
"No one is a bigger competitor than me, so I hate that we lost the way we did," said Cowboy head coach Mike Boynton. "But, my hat is off to the Italians tonight. They are a team full of professionals and they played very well. We played our first game together tonight and it showed that we have a lot of things to improve on."
Boynton was quick to point out key individual play during his squad's European tour opener. Five of McGriff's nine rebounds came on the offensive glass and the junior added four steals and a block, while Likekele was efficient driving the basketball into the lane. Dziagwa was OSU's best deep threat with 2-of-6 shooting from deep.
The Cowboys forced 20 turnovers and turned them into 33 points. OSU also posted a 15-6 edge in offensive rebounds.
OSU is four days into its 10-day European tour that includes trips to Venice, Rome and Athens. On Monday, the Cowboys toured Venice, took gondola rides and visited a glass blowing museum. Boynton and the Cowboys will head to Rome via train in the morning for a tour of Vatican City.
"I still haven't lost sight of the reason for this tour, which is helping our team bond and giving our players the experience of a lifetime. I love that our eight new players are getting to experience the best both on the court and off it."
Once the Cowboys get settled in Rome they will face the Netherlands National Team "B" squad on Thursday. Tipoff is scheduled for 1:15 p.m. Central. Unfortunately, the game will not be webcasted, but the Cowboy basketball twitter handle will have updates.
• Photo Gallery
VICENZA, Italy – Cameron McGriff posted 15 points and nine rebounds and Thomas Dziagwa and Isaac Likekele added 13 points each, but the Oklahoma State basketball team fell in its European tour opener, 99-72, to the Italian National Team's "B" squad.
The Italian team, consisting of professional players in Italy's Serie A and Serie B, shot 51 percent from the floor (36-of-70) and 48 percent (14-of-29) from 3-point. Andrea Pecchia, a fourth-year pro with Remer Treviglio, led five Italians in double figures with 17 points.
"No one is a bigger competitor than me, so I hate that we lost the way we did," said Cowboy head coach Mike Boynton. "But, my hat is off to the Italians tonight. They are a team full of professionals and they played very well. We played our first game together tonight and it showed that we have a lot of things to improve on."
Boynton was quick to point out key individual play during his squad's European tour opener. Five of McGriff's nine rebounds came on the offensive glass and the junior added four steals and a block, while Likekele was efficient driving the basketball into the lane. Dziagwa was OSU's best deep threat with 2-of-6 shooting from deep.
The Cowboys forced 20 turnovers and turned them into 33 points. OSU also posted a 15-6 edge in offensive rebounds.
OSU is four days into its 10-day European tour that includes trips to Venice, Rome and Athens. On Monday, the Cowboys toured Venice, took gondola rides and visited a glass blowing museum. Boynton and the Cowboys will head to Rome via train in the morning for a tour of Vatican City.
"I still haven't lost sight of the reason for this tour, which is helping our team bond and giving our players the experience of a lifetime. I love that our eight new players are getting to experience the best both on the court and off it."
Once the Cowboys get settled in Rome they will face the Netherlands National Team "B" squad on Thursday. Tipoff is scheduled for 1:15 p.m. Central. Unfortunately, the game will not be webcasted, but the Cowboy basketball twitter handle will have updates.
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