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by JOHN KLEIN Senior Sports Columnist , Tulsa World
STILLWATER Six students were in line at the doors of Gallagher-Iba Arena about two hours before Oklahoma State's Big 12 Conference basketball opener against Texas A&M on Saturday night. Just a few years ago, there would have been thousands more and the line would have formed days, not hours, in advance. Times have changed for the Cowboys, who once could lay claim to one of the best homecourt advantages in college basketball . OSU home games used to be an event, something special that rattled the rafters of the old arena.
Now, these are simple home games with plenty of empty seats. Yet, they are something conference teams must win to stay in the chase and build a resume for the NCAA Tournament. OSU, needing to hold serve at home in Big 12 , did so by forcing A&M into poor shots and the Cowboys got great balance with five players in double figures of a 72-61 victory. Marshall Moses led the way with 15 but he got plenty of help from Byron Eaton (14), Obi Muonelo (12), Terrel Harris (11) and James Anderson (10). But, it was an old OSU friend that boosted the Cowboys. They held A&M to just 39 percent shooting, including an awful 4-of-17 from 3-point range. "Oklahoma State was great in this game," said A&M coach Mark Turgeon. "They got us out of our rhythm. They were really good on defense." This is what you have to do, especially early in the league season. Win at home. Steal a few on the road. The Cowboys, who are now firmly in the top 50 RPI (32), have won seven straight, including a quality victory over Rhode Island, since their last loss (at Washington). O-State had been on an upward swing in recent weeks, since that early lull when it lost three of four games (Gonzaga, Michigan State and Washington). Gonzaga and Michigan State are virtual locks to make the NCAA Tournament. It was just the second loss of the season for A&M. The Aggies had won 10 straight since losing to Tulsa. Oklahoma State is looking for a reason to believe winning basketball has returned to Gallagher-Iba. The Cowboys, once considered among college basketball's elite, have suffered three straight seasons of one-and-done in the National Invitation Tournament. They've transitioned from coach Eddie Sutton, a glorious era that ended badly, through Sean Sutton and now Travis Ford. Finding some important victories, in short supply the last three seasons, is at the top of the OSU wish list. There's nothing wrong with a comfortable victory over a team some believe is a threat for the upper division in the conference. Nothing comes easy in the Big 12 and especially for the height-challenged Cowboys. They will spend the entire league season looking up at taller teams. In fact, through their first 14 games, the three leading rebounders are all perimeter players. O-State will rise and fall with its shooting. The Cowboys get a week off before hitting the road against Baylor. The Bears will be the start of a difficult stretch on the road for OSU. OSU has five road games in the next month, including at two ranked teams (Baylor and Texas). In addition, the Pokes also have to go to Kansas, unranked but talented and almost impossible to beat in Lawrence. During this early stretch, OSU also has a home date with highly-ranked Oklahoma. There is no room for a sluggish start. If the Cowboys have any hopes of playing significant games in March, they will have to make some noise with significant victories in the next month. However, whatever challenges are in front of the Cowboys, it is much more difficult for Texas A&M. The Aggies now face an absolutely brutal schedule. In the next four games, A&M plays Baylor and Oklahoma before hitting the road for games at Kansas and Texas. The season is made or busted in the next two weeks for the Aggies.
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