Oklahoma State Pounds Utah in Vegas

Originally Published: Nov 29, 2009 12:7 AM CDT

Associated Press

LAS VEGAS -- James Anderson scored 24 points to lead Oklahoma State to a 77-55 win over Utah in the championship game of the Las Vegas Invitational on Saturday night.

Anderson, the invitational's most valuable player, went 13 of 14 from the free-throw line. He also had five assists and three steals.

Obi Muonelo added 17 points on 5-of-5 shooting for Oklahoma State (6-0), while Marshall Moses had 12 points and eight rebounds.

Jay Watkins had 14 points and nine rebounds to lead Utah (3-3), which upset No. 20 Illinois the night before. Chris Hines had 10 points for the Utes, who were held to 33 percent shooting.

After Utah jumped to a 7-2 advantage, the Cowboys went on a 17-0 run and never trailed again. Oklahoma State led 44-26 at intermission and expanded the lead to as much as 24 points in the second half.

The Utes shot 7 of 22 in the first half, after shooting 7 of 29 the night before against Illinois.

This is the third time this decade the Cowboys have reached the Vegas Invitational finals. In 2001 they defeated TCU, and in 2005 lost to Boston College. Both those tournaments were held at a local high school gym, which seats 2,000. The tournament is now at the 8,000-seat Orleans Arena.

This was the first time Oklahoma State and Utah have met in 28 years.