OSU Falls To Missouri

Saturday, February 17th 2007, 4:13 pm

By: News On 6

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) Keon Lawrence scored 18 points and Matt Lawrence added 15 off five 3-pointers as Missouri upset No. 18 Oklahoma State 75-64 Saturday for its first win over a ranked foe under first-year coach Mike Anderson.

The Tigers pulled ahead with an 11-2 run early in the 2nd-half, and the Cowboys (19-7, 5-6) were never able to make a run to keep their 17-game home winning streak in tact.

The loss could be a crucial blow to the NCAA tournament hopes for the Cowboys, who have lost four of their last five and don't have a road win this season. They lost 83-54 at Texas on Monday night.

It was Oklahoma State's first home loss since Feb. 13, 2006, against Kansas -- on the same day former coach Eddie Sutton announced he'd take a leave of absence following a drunk driving accident.

Mario Boggan and JamesOn Curry each scored 16 and Kenny Cooper added 10 for the Cowboys, who appeared hesitant against Missouri's pressing defense.

For the Tigers, it was there first win in Stillwater since Big 12 play began in 1996.

Stefhon Hannah converted a 3-point play off a scoop layup under the basket, then stole the ball and set up Keon Lawrence's 3-pointer that made it 48-41 as Missouri (16-9, 5-7) started to pull away. Hannah then had to go to the bench after picking up his third foul, but Missouri was able to stretch its lead to 53-43 following Matt Lawrence's 3-pointer and a two-handed dunk by Leo Lyons.

Oklahoma State cut the deficit in half with 5-straight points, but the Tigers' lead was back to 62-52 after Matt Lawrence's fifth 3-pointer.

It was 67-56 after Marshall Brown beat the shot clock with a 3-pointer from the left wing, and Oklahoma State was never closer than 7-after that.

Keon Lawrence hit a driving layup and a foul-line jumper to extend the lead to 12 and send the Cowboys' orange-clad fans streaming toward the exits in the final 2 minutes.

Brown added 12 points for Missouri, which matched its season-high with 22 turnovers but also forced 21 by the Cowboys. Matt Lawrence, who was 5-7 from 3-point range, had his most 3s ever in a Big 12 game.

Oklahoma State used Missouri's game early, getting 5-steals and forcing 7-total turnovers to build a 14-3 lead in the first 5 minutes. Matt Lawrence hit a 3-pointer to start a 12-4 comeback for the Tigers, and Darryl Butterfield found Glen Dandridge wide open under the basket for a layup that cut the deficit to 16-15.

Matt Lawrence hit another 3 to give Missouri its first lead at 26-25, and the teams traded the lead four times before Cooper put back Terrel Harris' missed 3-pointer just before the halftime buzzer to tie the game at 35.