Men's Basketball: Oklahoma State
BY KELLY HINES World Sports Writer
Monday, February 18, 2013
2/18/13 at 5:47 AM
19-5 overall, 9-3 Big 12
THREE QUESTIONS
with Markel Brown
Class: Junior
Position: Guard
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 190 pounds
Hometown: Alexandria, La.
In Saturday's 84-79 overtime victory against Oklahoma, Brown's steal with 41 seconds left led to Michael Cobbins' winning layup. After scoring 28 points in Wednesday's win at Texas Tech, Brown was referred to as the best player on OSU's team by Red Raider coach Chris Walker.
What was it like playing in front of a sold-out crowd for Bedlam?
This is the No. 1 gym in the country once it's packed. I couldn't even hear whistles being blown on some plays. It was fun crowd-surfing with some of the fans. I hope they had fun. I hope they come back for more.
Were you surprised when the students rushed the court?
We're a ranked team. OU's not. We're on a pretty good win streak, so I was very surprised. But it's Bedlam. The fans love it, and if they want to rush the court after every win, if they come, I'm down for it.
You always play in Jordan sneakers. How many pairs do you have?
I have about 40. I love Jordans. That's almost all I wear, Jordans and Nikes. ... If we're winning, I wear the same shoe. I'm not going to change my shoes if we're winning. I've worn these (Jordan 12s) for seven straight games.
THE BREAKDOWN
Looking back
Seven first-half 3-pointers from Brown propelled OSU to a lopsided 91-67 victory at Texas Tech on Wednesday, and the Cowboys kept the win streak going Saturday, rallying to force overtime and handing the Sooners an 84-79 defeat.
The week ahead
Wednesday: vs. Kansas, 8 p.m.
Saturday: at West Virginia, 1 p.m.
Beating a good team twice in a month is hard, and OSU hasn't swept the regular-season series with the Jayhawks since 1983. On Saturday, the Cowboys play in Morgantown for the first time in school history while looking for a fourth straight conference road win.
The big picture
When was the last time Gallagher-Iba was as electric as Saturday?
After the Bedlam game, a few media members agreed: It compared to the noise level at a huge home victory against Kansas in 2010, when the Cowboys defeated a top-ranked team for the first time in 21 years.
Could the Kansas game be a sellout?
As of Sunday afternoon, fewer than 600 tickets remained, and only singles were available in the lower section. Typically, midweek games are a hard sell, but the momentum of seven wins in a row plus the Bedlam victory could be enough to fill the 13,611-seat arena.
Of the three teams tied for first in the Big 12, whose path is the toughest?
Kansas has seemingly returned to top form, but the Jayhawks' three remaining road games are brutal: OSU, Iowa State and Baylor. Those teams are a combined 17-1 at home in conference play this season. Kansas State also visits Baylor and OSU, plus Texas.
Associated Images:
OSU fans celebrate in the final seconds of the Cowboys' overtime win Saturday at Gallagher Iba Arena. KT King/For the Tulsa World
Oklahoma State guard Marcus Smart shoots over Oklahoma's Romero Osby in the final seconds of regulation during OSU's 84-79 overtime win Saturday in Stillwater. KT KING / For the Tulsa World
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