Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State University
Texas
No. 12 Men's Hoops Downs Texas, 73-65
January 19, 2000 | Cowboy Basketball
Jan. 19, 2000
By OWEN CANFIELD
AP Sports Writer
STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) - Desmond Mason broke out of a slump by scoring 30 points Wednesday night and No. 12 Oklahoma State made clutch free throws in the closing minutes to hold off No. 14 Texas 73-65.
Mason had totaled just 20 points in the Cowboys' three previous games against Division I competition. But he had 14 straight during one first-half stretch and scored the first eight of the second half to give Oklahoma State (14-1, 3-0 Big 12) the lead for good. His total was two short of his career high.
Chris Mihm, who fouled out in the final minute, had 24 points for Texas (11-5, 3-1). Gabe Muoneke, coming off a 30-point effort against Oklahoma, and Darren Kelly each had 13.
Mason's 14-point surge in the first half included 11 in a three-minute span during which the Cowboys turned a 17-10 deficit into a 21-18 lead.
Mason didn't score over the final 9:16 of the half, however, when the Cowboys struggled to find open shots and made just three field goals. They trailed 30-29 at halftime.
But Mason made sure to get the ball early in the second half. He opened with two free throws, added a baseline jumper off an inbound pass, another baseline shot two minutes later and a jumper from the right wing that made the score 37-30.
While Mason was heating up, Texas was going nearly four minutes without a basket - three missed shots and three turnovers.
Glendon Alexander, who scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half, had a 3-pointer in transition and two free throws to give the Cowboys their biggest lead, 54-41 with 6:36 to play. Texas got as close as five twice in the late going, but Oklahoma State sealed the victory by going 12-of-14 from the free throw line over the final 1:48.
Texas shot just 44 percent and Oklahoma State 43 percent, no surprise considering they are two of the top defensive teams in the Big 12.
