Cowboys Win Opener in Spain and Cowgirls Take Their Second, This One in Greece
(These recaps of basketball wins for Oklahoma State in Spain (Cowboys) and in Greece (Cowgirls) were originated by Oklahoma State University Athletic Media Relations and added to by Pokes Rpeort publisher Robert Allen with information from OSU Associate Athletic Director Larry Reece.)
Oklahoma State Cowboys - Trip to Spain
MADRID, Spain – Oklahoma State opened their three-game exhibition tour to Spain with a strong effort against a solid and veteran Spanish professional team in the Cape Verde National Team 86-79. The Cowboys played well and head coach Mike Boynton played a lot of players including his younger new additions in the contest.
The Cape Verde National Team has an average age of 32-years-old. They have one player that is 38-years-old and the youngest player is 24. That team was playing in preparation for participating in the upcoming FIBA World Cup.
Quion Williams led the Cowboys with 19 points and was strong with his game both inside and outside. The 6-5 sophomore from Jonesboro, Ark. took his game to another level according to Oklahoma State senior associate athletic director and basketball PA announcer Larry Reece who is on the trip.
Below, Williams is shown getting the rebound underneath off of a missed jump shot and reversing back for the lay-in.
Reece also reported that freshman Connor Dow of Broken Arrow, Okla. proved what head coach Mike Boynton was saying about him in practice and that his basketball IQ exceeded expectations. He was brought in as a shooter and did not diappoint with four made three-pointers in the contest and finished with 14 points.
Other young players that stood out included McBride, who scored in double figures (14 points) and had a slam dunk that got the gym’s attention. Eric Dailey Jr., the four-star and top 100 recruit out of IMG Academy and who’s father played at TCU for Moe Iba, the son of Oklahoma A&M/Oklahoma State legendary coach Henry Iba had 12 points. The 6-8, freshman that played for the Team USA Under 19 team in World Competition earlier this summer displayed an all around game.
Senior Bryce Thompson and new point guard Javon Small also played well with the reports on Small saying that he plays bigger than his listed 6-3 size. Small had four assists in the contest. Boynton has called him the most significant addition to the program since one and done Detroit Pistons No, 1 overall pick Cade Cunningham. That is big!
"We had a lot of different guys step up in roles that we hoped they would be able to have this year," Boynton said. "Some of our young guys made some significant plays for us to close out the game."
When Cape Verde – a tiny island nation off the coast of West Africa -- makes its FIBA World Cup debut later this month, it will boast one of the tournament's most-experienced front lines, led by 7-foot-3 William Taveres. The former NBA center and current Real Madrid standout finished with game-highs 22 points and 13 rebounds against an OSU front court anchored by four freshmen.
"He's a load," Boynton said. "He gave us trouble in terms of putting our guys in foul trouble. The game is played very physically over here, and it took our young guys some time to adjust to that. But we just kept battling. We got some key steals over the course of the game. We took advantage of our youth and athleticism and really wore them down physically."
Ten Cowboys scored and nine clocked double-digit minutes. OSU finished plus-eight in the turnover column, helped by 15 steals.
The Cowboys shot 47.1% from the field, including 10-of-28 from deep. Dow contributed four triples while McBride and Jarius Hicklen drilled two-each.
McBride's dunk with 3:53 to play in the first quarter put OSU in front for good and set off a 13-5 spurt to end the first quarter.
The team has dabbled in a Spanish sports tradition the night before the opening game when they went to a bull ranch where bulls are raised for bull fighting. The Cowboys (vaqueros) asked for volunteers and several Cowboys including the bravest of the crew graduate guard John-Michael Wright did some bullfighting. At one point, Wright had both hands on the bulls head as he was trying to ram into him and Wright’s athleticism got him out of the jam.
The tour continues later this week with games against select teams in Valencia and Barcelona. The Cowboys take on the Valencia All-Stars Thursday at Noon CT.
Oklahoma State Cowgirls - Italy/Greece Trip
ATHENS, Greece – Oklahoma State's women's basketball team rolled to a 115-66 victory on Tuesday evening against the Greek Women All-Stars inside the Eurohoops Dome. The Cowgirls beat the Rome All-Stars in Italy in the tour opener 94-61.
In the second of three contests during the squad's tour of Italy and Greece, the Cowgirls enjoyed another outstanding offensive performance, scoring at least 28 points in each quarter.
After facing an early 10-5 deficit, the Cowgirls reeled off a 10-0 run to grab the lead halfway through the first period. OSU would add another 15 consecutive points before ultimately taking a 30-15 advantage into the second frame.
Below, Anna Gret Asi nails a three-pointer from the corner as she had 17 points in the contest.
Hannah Gusters took over for OSU in the second, finishing with 14 points in the quarter and sending the Cowgirls into the half with a 58-36 advantage.
In the third, the offensive display continued with the Cowgirls getting back-to-back treys to stretch the margin to 51-28. A quick 9-0 run would push the lead to 72-43 before OSU would ultimately take an 87-55 lead into the final stanza.
The Cowgirls opened the fourth on a 6-0 run before hitting the century mark shortly thereafter.
Gusters led OSU with 30 points, while Lior Garzon added 20. Anna Gret Asi poured in 17, Quincy Noble scored 14 and Stailee Heard reached double figures with 12.
The Cowgirls have one more game before wrapping up the tour and heading home to Stillwater.