OSU basketball notebook: Addressing attendance
BY KELLY HINES World Sports Writer
Thursday, December 20, 2012
12/20/12 at 5:06 AM
Oklahoma State gave away 1,000 unused student tickets for Wednesday night's game earlier in the day, resulting in a full student section behind the goals on the lower level.
"Behind those backboards is such an effect," coach Travis Ford said. "It's an effect on our team. That's what you see. That's what you feel, and all these games are on TV."
Most students are not on campus because of Christmas break. Ford said he hoped to give away unused tickets for Saturday's home game as well.
Familiar face: Less than a year after leaving Oklahoma State, guard Reger Dowell returned as a member of UTA's team. Dowell, a junior, is sitting out this season because of NCAA transfer rules.
Injury update: Center Marek SouÄek remained in street clothes Wednesday, missing a seventh straight game with a knee sprain. He might not return to practice until after Christmas.
"He's come back twice and it's swelled each time, so we decided just to shut him down for two weeks," Ford said.
Stat check: The 20 turnovers by UT-Arlington in the first half are the most by a Cowboy opponent since Prairie View A&M had 22 on Nov. 9, 2007. OSU's 10 steals at half also are the most since recording 12 in that same game.
The Mavs' 31 turnovers are the most by an OSU opponent since that Prairie View game.
Reserve guard Kirby Gardner scored a career-high seven points.
For the third straight game, Michael Cobbins grabbed eight rebounds, tying his season-high.
Philip Jurick's eight offensive boards are the most by a Cowboy since Darrell Williams had eight against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Nov. 17, 2010.
Jurick had 10 rebounds, reaching double digits in the category for a second time this season and the sixth time in his OSU career.
Up next: The Cowboys face Tennessee Tech (6-5) at noon Saturday, the fifth of six straight games at home.
