Tulsa World: OSU freshman rescues Pokes in second half

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OSU freshman rescues Pokes in second half

BIG NIGHT
Ray Penn: The freshman guard scored 12 of OSU's last 19 points against Bradley on Friday night.

By Staff Reports
Published: 11/28/2009 2:19 AM
Last Modified: 11/28/2009 6:58 AM

LAS VEGAS — Ray Penn was a high roller in Las Vegas again.

The freshman guard scored all of his career-high 14 points after halftime and helped Oklahoma State repel a Bradley comeback attempt Friday night at the HoopTV Las Vegas Invitational.

The Cowboys led by as many as 20 points in second half of their first game away from home this season, but settled for a 68-57 victory at Orleans Arena.

The Braves got as close eight points with nearly five minutes remaining, but got blanked on three consecutive possessions and managed two field goals the rest of the way.

Penn's previous scoring high came when he collected 11 points in his first collegiate start against Southern University.

His new career high was established in the same city where he made a name for himself on the recruiting circuit.

Penn was a below-the-radar prospect before he averaged 35.8 points to lead all scorers at the 2008 Reebok Summer Championships in Las Vegas.

Ford said he didn't know who Penn was before he watched Penn erupt in the '08 tournament.

In Penn's return to Vegas, Ford watched the rookie point guard ride to the Cowboys' rescue.

Penn scored 12 of OSU's last 19 points and was the only OSU player to make a field goal in the last 12 minutes.

Ford said Penn made huge shots when OSU was struggling "big time" to score.

"He's a tough little cookie," the coach said. "When we need a basket, he will take a guy one-on-one. He's a kid that has got a lot of confidence in himself. He's just, at times, got to make a few better decisions than he is making, but I like Ray Penn. He's got a toughness about him."

Penn said Bradley defenders were keying on James Anderson, who scored 14 of his 19 points in the first half. Someone had to take up the slack in the second half.

"I'm not shy," Penn said. "I'm out there to make plays. That's what coach Ford tells me is I'm out there to make plays, so I just stepped up and hit (shots)."

The Cowboys had to finish the game without Anderson because the All-Big 12 junior guard fouled out with 3:03 left.

He fouled out for only the second time in his college career and for the first time ever in a nonconference game.

OSU improved to 5-0 and will play Utah in the tournament title game at 9:30 p.m. Saturday. Bradley fell to 3-2.

Bradley returned four starters from a team that won 21 games last season. The Braves have won at least 21 games in four straight seasons.

Taylor Brown led Bradley with a career-best 21 points, most by an OSU opponent this season.

OSU and Bradley met for the first time in more than half a century.

The former Missouri Valley Conference rivals have played 17 times, but not since the Braves beat the Cowboys during Eddie Sutton's senior season in 1958. By Staff Reports

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Some reader comments for this story were copied from "Penn, OSU hold off Bradley 68-57," which was published on 11/27/2009.

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Carlos, Tulsa (11/28/2009 2:40:46 AM)

Great job Ray!

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