Oklahoma State ousts Texas Tech in Big 12 tourney

Associated Press

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- James Anderson scored 18 points and hit the game-clinching free throws with 4 seconds to go, lifting Oklahoma State past Texas Tech 76-72 in a seesaw first-round match in the Big 12 tournament.

Texas Tech led by as many as five points in the second half, but missed three of four foul shots with about 3 minutes to go and could not stop Oklahoma State point guard Byron Eaton down the stretch.

Eaton popped in a 12-foot jumper for a 73-71 lead with 45 seconds left, then hit a free throw to make it 74-70. After Charlie Burgess sliced the lead to 74-70, Anderson connected twice from the foul line for the Cowboys (17-15), who have won six of their last eight following a six-game losing streak and will face top-seeded Texas in the second round on Friday.

Alan Voskuil had 19 points for Texas Tech (16-15).

Pat Knight, after taking over for his hall-of-fame father, Bob, on Feb. 4, was 4-7 as the Red Raiders' head coach. His losses included 98-54 to Texas A&M and 109-51 to Kansas in less than a week, with both breaking the school record for most lopsided defeat. In between those epic defeats was a shocking 83-80 upset of eventual co-champion Texas.

Eaton, the first guard in Oklahoma State history to have 100 or more assists in each of his first three seasons, missed the front end of a one-and-one free throw with 20 seconds left. The Red Raiders grabbed the rebound, but Burgess was trapped near the foul line on the opposite end of the court and the Cowboys got the ball.

Eaton had 12 points and four assists and Terrel Harris had 12 points for Oklahoma State.

Voskuil and Trevor Cook each hit two straight 3-pointers opening the second half and the Red Raiders quickly erased a 36-32 halftime deficit to take a 44-42 lead on the second 3-pointer by Cook, who had only two points the first half but finished with 16, including 3-for-3 from the 3-point arc. Burgess had 14 for the Red Raiders.

Byron Eaton's 3-pointer put the Cowboys on top 45-44, then the two teams traded one-point leads for the next five possessions, with just about every shooter getting an open look and making good on the first shot.

In a weird, streaky start to the game, Oklahoma State took a 6-0 lead and then missed its next 10 shots as the Red Raiders went on a 14-0 run for a 14-6 lead.

Oklahoma State, with Anderson hitting the Cowboys' first 3-pointer, then unleashed a 7-0 run for a 14-14 tie.

Marcus Dove blocked a Texas Tech shot in the first half, giving him the distinction of being only the fourth player in Oklahoma State history with 100 career blocks and 100 steals.