Oklahoma State University Athletics
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Kansas
Cowboys fall to Kansas, 64-49
February 14, 2006 | Cowboy Basketball
STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) - Mario Chalmers scored 13 points and No. 22 Kansas pulled away in the second half to beat Oklahoma State 64-49 Monday night in the Cowboys' first game since coach Eddie Sutton took a medical leave of absence.
The 69-year-old Sutton announced he was stepping aside for the rest of the season earlier in the day after being cited for driving under the influence during a traffic accident Friday night that landed him in the hospital.
Coached by Sutton's son, Sean, the Cowboys (13-12, 3-8 Big 12) stayed with the Jayhawks until their struggling offense failed in the final 6 minutes.
The teams had played the first 13 minutes of the second half within three points, but Kansas (18-6, 9-2) pulled ahead with an eight-point run to go up 47-42 on Brandon Rush's two-handed, alley-oop jam with 6:51 to play.
The Jayhawks then capitalized on a pair of Cowboys turnovers and back-to-back missed 3-pointers to build on the lead. Chalmers' driving layup made it 55-44.
During a late timeout, fans chanted ``It's not over,'' but the Cowboys were unable to mount a comeback.
Rush, Julian Wright and Sasha Kaun each scored 12 for Kansas in its eighth straight win. The Jayhawks have also won four straight on the road.
Kansas coach Bill Self, an Oklahoma State alum, said playing in Stillwater wasn't the same without Eddie Sutton on the Cowboys' bench.
``I wish coach was here,'' Self said. ``I hope he gets to feeling better. He's done more for this school than anybody could ever imagine.''
JamesOn Curry scored 15 points and Mario Boggan had 13 points and eight rebounds for Oklahoma State, which shot 37.5 percent and committed 24 turnovers.
The Cowboys rallied from eight points down to tie it at halftime and led 42-39 after Boggan's three-point play with 10:30 left. After that, Oklahoma State - averaging 55.6 points in their last five games - scored just seven the rest of the way.
Sutton came away from Friday's accident with bumps, bruises and cuts. He had already been fighting chronic back pain, which caused him to miss the season opener.
The announcement of his leave of absence coincided with the revelation that Sutton was cited for driving under the influence, speeding and crossing the center line in the crash. Witnesses told police Sutton fell down before leaving Gallagher-Iba Arena and was swerving along the road to the Stillwater airport.
The fans were on their feet - as usual - when Torre Johnson led the Cowboys onto the court for warmups, then let out another cheer a few minutes later when Sean Sutton - Eddie's top assistant - brought the coaching staff to the sidelines.
Fans held up signs reading ``We Miss Eddie'' and ``Get Well Eddie,'' and a brief ``Eddie! Eddie!'' chant broke out in one section of seats in the final minutes.
Kansas scored the first eight points on two layups, two free throws and a dunk before Boggan scored inside to get the Cowboys started.
After closing to within one, Oklahoma State went more than 7 minutes before its next field goal, but still found itself within striking distance. The Cowboys then rallied from a six-point deficit on the defensive end, with Terrel Harris and Jamaal Brown converting steals into layups, and the crowd coming to a roar after a Kansas shot-clock violation.
The game went to halftime tied at 23. Kansas had 15 first-half turnovers, and Oklahoma State had 13.
