OSU Picks Up Easy Win to Open NIT

The Cowboys rolled Harvard 71-54 to advance.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 12:16 pm

By: News On 6

Originally Published: Mar 15, 2011 8:55 PM CDT

Grant Belcher
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

STILLWATER, Okla. – Markel Brown drove the baseline and threw down a thunderous dunk, and for a moment it was easy to forget that it was an NIT game.

Despite the fact that OSU produced a disappointing season and that many of the students were gone on spring break, a loud and proud crowd roared the Cowboys on to a 71-54 victory over Harvard.

Oklahoma State, the No. 3 seed in their region of the bracket, hosted the matchup against the Crimson on Tuesday evening, and looked rejuvenated.

Harvard had won eight of its past 10 games coming into the matchup, but was no match for the Cowboys right out of the gate.

OSU jumped out to a 9-2 lead on a layup from Reger Dowell just three minutes in.

A pair of free throws from Jean Paul Olukemi gave OSU its first double-digit lead nine minutes in and the Cowboys held a 41-27 lead at half.

Harvard never seriously threatened in the second half as the OSU seniors finished out what might have been their final home game.

The Cowboys will take on the winner of Wednesday’s Long Beach State – Washington State game.

Washington State is a 2-seed in the tournament, and would host Oklahoma State if it were to win. OSU would get another home game if LBSU pulled off the upset.

The Cowboys shot 54 percent while holding the Crimson to just 40 percent in the game.

Marshall Moses scored 18 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead the Cowboys, while Reger Dowell had 15 and Matt Pilgrim 12.

OSU will face the winner of the Long Beach State – Washington State matchup later this week – time and location are to be determined.