Cowboys outlast Orange
Stephen Graham scored 16 points, including two three-point plays in the final 4 1/2 minutes, and No. 5 Oklahoma State beat No. 4 Syracuse 74-60 on Tuesday night in the Jimmy V Classic in New York.
The defenses dominated in the matchup of top-five teams, but the Cowboys (6-0) were able to pull away from a 45-all tie with 6 minutes, 32 seconds to play as the Orangemen (7-1) couldn’t hit from the field or the free-throw line.
John Lucas hit a 3-pointer – his only points of the game – to break that last tie and start a 17-4 run that included Graham’s two big plays.
Ivan McFarlin scored with 2:20 to go to cap the run and give Oklahoma State a 62-49 lead.
Gerry McNamara hit three 3-pointers in the final 1:23 to get Syracuse within 66-60, but the Orange couldn’t get any closer.
(11) Pittsburgh 70, Memphis 51: At New York, Carl Krauser scored all but two of his 17 points at the free-throw line to lead the Panthers (6-0) to a victory over the Tigers (5-3) in the Jimmy V Classic. Chris Taft had 13 points and 10 rebounds for Pittsburgh. Memphis shot 29 percent (9 for 31), including 1 for 9 from 3-point range.
(14) Texas 86, North Texas 57: At Austin, Texas, Brad Buckman scored 18 points and blocked seven shots to lead the Longhorns (6-1) to a win over the Mean Green (3-3). Buckman got his first two blocks in the first two minutes and came up one short of the school record.
(17) Iowa 76, Northern Iowa 73: At Iowa City, Iowa, Greg Brunner scored 23 points and the Hawkeyes (7-1) held off a late rally to beat the Panthers (3-2). The Hawkeyes led by 13 points with more than seven minutes left in the game, but then struggled as the Panthers pulled within a point in the final minute. The Panthers had a chance to take the lead, but Ben Jacobson, who led all scorers with 25 points, missed a 15-footer with six seconds left. Jeff Horner grabbed the rebound, was fouled and hit both free throws to give the Hawkeyes their final margin of victory.
(18) Alabama 72, Alabama St. 54: At Montgomery, Ala., Kennedy Winston scored 21 points, and Chuck Davis had 18 points and nine rebounds for the Crimson Tide (7-0) who beat the Hornets (1-4). Alabama, the nation’s top scoring team, was held to a season-low in points but led by double digits for the final 33 minutes. Reserve George Savage had 14 points, making 4 of 7 3-pointers, to lead the Hornets.
(24) Wisconsin 65, Wisconsin-Green Bay 55: At Madison, Wis., Mike Wilkinson scored 18 points and the Badgers (5-1) extended the longest home winning streak in Division I to 32 games by defeating the Phoenix (4-2). Alando Tucker added 16 points and Sharif Chambliss had 13 for the Badgers. Wisconsin scored the first 12 points and never trailed.