OKLAHOMA ST 30, Louisiana Tech 23

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) _ One quick glance made Robbie Gillem a hero in Oklahoma State's 30-23 win Saturday over Louisiana Tech. <br><br>Gillem, a special teams player, glanced up to see Louisiana Tech

Sunday, September 9th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) _ One quick glance made Robbie Gillem a hero in Oklahoma State's 30-23 win Saturday over Louisiana Tech.

Gillem, a special teams player, glanced up to see Louisiana Tech punter Dustin Upton bobble a snap. Upton tried to run, but fumbled and Gillem fell on the bouncing ball in the end zone.

The touchdown broke a tie and lifted the Cowboys past the Bulldogs.

``I just happened to be in the right place at the right time,'' Gillem said. ``How lucky was I? The play is toward the top of my list of biggest plays.''

Luke McCown connected on 29 of 54 passes for 286 yards and a touchdown for Louisiana Tech (1-1, 1-0 Western Athletic Conference). John Simon had 126 yards receiving and a TD.

But Oklahoma State's defense kept the Bulldogs out of the end zone in the fourth quarter.

The win was coach Les Miles' first at Oklahoma State (1-1).

``The defense consistently played them just how we needed to have them play for us to win this game,'' Miles said.

Tatum Bell rushed for 109 yards and a touchdown for Oklahoma State, but 97 came in the first half.

The Bulldogs defense held _ allowing only 58 yards from Oklahoma State in the second half.

``I thought our defense was starting to play better and I felt good about that,'' Louisiana Tech coach Jack Bicknell said. ``I thought if we could get something going on offense then we could be in it at the end, which we were.''

Aso Pogi was 11-of-22 with a touchdown and an interception for Oklahoma State.

But two fumbles by Pogi _ including one returned for a touchdown _ led to 10 Louisiana Tech points.

``There were key mistakes on my part that we definitely can't have, but those things will be corrected,'' Pogi said.

McCown connected with Simon from 22 yards out to tie the game at 20 with 6:08 in the third quarter.

Oklahoma State added a field goal to go up 23-20 at 1:44 in the third quarter. Quincy Davis picked off Pogi's pass, but Oklahoma State held and Josh Scobee kicked a 20-yard field goal with 10:15 left to tie it at 23.

Kevin Williams sacked McCown for a 16-yard loss to force the punt that led to the fumble and final touchdown.

Oklahoma State led 14-0 at the end of the first quarter.