OSU basketball notebook: Streak continues
BY KELLY HINES World Sports Writer
Thursday, January 31, 2013
1/31/13 at 3:19 AM
With the 78-76 victory, Oklahoma State has won 17 consecutive games against Iowa State inside Gallagher-Iba Arena.
"It's been three tough ones since I've been here," Cyclones coach Fred Hoiberg said. "We lost in overtime, last year's ending didn't turn out well, and then (Marcus) Smart ended it tonight. It's a tough place to play."
Practices makes perfect: Smart said after the game that he practices a half-court shot - like the one he hit at the end of the first half - every day in practice. Teammate Markel Brown's response: "Every. Day."
"Right when we walk into the gym, I just throw up the shot, so my first shot of the day is from half court," Smart said. "I probably make it about every other practice."
Williams returns: Sophomore Brian Williams saw his first action of the season after sitting out the first 18 games with a left-wrist injury. He played six minutes.
"His offensive rhythm right now is not there," coach Travis Ford said. "The biggest problem is he doesn't really know what we're doing offensively. I just wanted to get him out there and get him in the mix."
Williams had more playing time than center Philip Jurick, who started the game but played only five minutes. With Iowa State's dangerous guards, OSU needed a smaller lineup, and Phil Forte started the second half.
Stat check: OSU's two-point win is its narrowest margin of victory this season. The Cowboys defeated Akron by four.
For the second straight game, Oklahoma State overcame a double-digit deficit to win. The Cowboys trailed Iowa State by 11 in the second half. In the last outing, OSU trailed West Virginia by 13 before winning by 14.
