OSU Erases Early Deficit to Win Bedlam

OU went on a 21-7 run to start the game, but the Cowboys responded.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 12:11 pm

By: News On 6

Originally Published: Feb 5, 2011 3:37 PM CDT

Corey DeMoss
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

STILLWATER, Okla. – Oklahoma State overcame a big early deficit and held off a late push Saturday to beat rival Oklahoma 81-75 in Bedlam.

The Sooners (12-10, 4-4) immediately took control from the opening tip and started the game on a 21-7 run. OU then began getting into foul trouble – a trend that continued for the rest of the game – and the Cowboys (16-7, 4-5) went on a 15-4 run of their own to cut the lead to three.

OU committed a total of 15 fouls in the first half, resulting 25 free throws for OSU. The Cowboys hit 10 in a row at one point, went 19-of-25 overall and trailed 42-39 at halftime.

OSU began the second half much stronger than the first, going on a 12-4 run to take its first lead of the day. The game remained close throughout; the Cowboys never trailed again, but also never led by more than eight points.

The Sooners drew within three points several times in the closing minutes, but could not pull any closer. The Cowboys scored their last nine points from the free-throw line to keep OU at arms’ length.

Four Cowboys scored in double figures, led by a game-high 19 points from Jean-Paul Olukemi. Keiton Page and Darrell Williams each scored 18, and Markel Brown added 10. The rest of the team combined to score just 16 points.

Andrew Fitzgerald and Cade Davis led OU with 18 points each, and Carl Blair scored 13. Both teams struggled from long range, combining to shoot 4-of-29 on 3-pointers.

The outcome ended a four-game winning streak for OU and gave OSU its first back-to-back conference wins of the season. OU dropped into a three-way tie for fourth place in the Big 12, with OSU a half-game behind.

The Cowboys will have a week off before hitting the road for their next game against Nebraska at 6 p.m. on Feb. 12. The Sooners will host No. 3 Texas – one of the hottest teams in the nation – at 8 p.m. Wednesday.