STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) -Freshman James Anderson scored 15 points as Oklahoma State closed its non-conference slate with a 62-53 win on Monday night against Rogers State, a first-year NAIA program.
Byron Eaton scored 14 points and Obi Muonelo added 13 for Oklahoma State (9-5), with both scoring in the final moments to help the Cowboys preserve their fourth straight win. Oklahoma State is 8-0 at home this basketball season.
The game officially was an exhibition game for Rogers State (8-3), a member of the Sooner Athletic Conference. The Hillcats, coached by Oklahoma State’s former administrative assistant, Wren Baker, opened the game on a 6-1 run and Oklahoma State didn’t take its first lead until Muonelo hit a driving layup to make it 12-11 with 13:18 left in the first half.
The Cowboys never trailed after that and closed the half on a 24-14 run to take a 36-25 lead. Oklahoma State started the second half on a 10-3 run, keyed by back-to-back 3-pointers by Eaton. That gave the Cowboys their biggest lead, at 46-28 with 13:30 left.
Rogers State did not go quietly, cutting the deficit to eight three times in the final 1:25, the last at 58-50 when Roderick Rodgers hit the second of two free throws with 42 seconds remaining. But a layup by Muonelo and a pair of free throws by Eaton secured the win for Oklahoma State.
Rodgers led the Hillcats with 12 points and Eric Young added 11.
Both teams struggled with their shooting, with Oklahoma State making 21 of 50 shots for 42 percent and Rogers State finishing 17 of 49 from the field for 34.7 percent.
Oklahoma State will open Big 12 Conference play on Saturday at home against Texas Tech, with the Red Raiders’ coach, Bob Knight, seeking his 900th career win.
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