Tulsa World: Muonelo's eight 3-pointers lead Cowboys in win

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Muonelo's eight 3-pointers lead Cowboys in win
The junior guard scored 16 of OSU's first 27 points.

By Staff Reports
Published: 12/15/2008 2:20 AM
Last Modified: 12/15/2008 3:15 AM

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Obi Muonelo had a hot hand, so teammates fed him and he feasted for a career-best 32 points in Oklahoma State's 82-59 victory over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

"Obi had one of those nights," OSU coach Travis Ford said. "I guess they call it being in the zone and he was definitely in the zone."

Muonelo matched a career-high with eight 3-pointers (on 11 attempts) and pulled down 14 rebounds, one shy of a career-high, to secure the first nonconference road win of his career.

Before Sunday, OSU hadn't won a nonleague road game since beating Pepperdine on Jan. 3, 2006, when Muonelo was a high school senior. He helped the Cowboys to their most lopsided road victory since a 25-point decision over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Jan. 3, 2005.

Ford said Muonelo kept OSU in the game in the first half, when no one else seemed to be able to make shots. The junior guard scored 16 of the Cowboys' first 27 points and 26 of the first 42.

Ford said he started calling plays for Muonelo every time down the court.

"His teammates knew he was hot, so they found him," Ford said, indicating that's a sign the Cowboys are not a selfish team.

Muonelo's point total was the highest by an OSU player since JamesOn Curry dropped 40 on Baylor on March 3, 2007. Muonelo's previous career-high was 25, which came at Oklahoma's expense last season.

OSU improved to 6-3 this season and 7-0 all-time against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. The Islanders fell to 5-5 with their first home loss this season.

OSU, down 31-29 at halftime, won a game when trailing at the half for the first time this season and the second time in the last two seasons.

The Cowboys were 20-of-26 from the field in the second half and outscored the Islanders 53-28.

James Anderson scored 14 of his 16 points in the second half. Said Ford, "I really got on to James at halftime. We really challenged him and boy did he respond."

Terrel Harris scored 11 points and Byron Eaton matched a season-high with 10 assists. Ford credited Eaton's willingness to get other players involved as a key factor in the outcome.

Sophomore forward Malcoln Kirkland got his first career start and played only three first-half minutes because of foul trouble, but finished with a career-best 10 points, all in the second half.

Muonelo recorded his fourth double-double this season.

Muonelo has embraced a new role with a different coaching staff and Ford said the junior guard deserved to have a big scoring performance because he works hard.

"There is no better gym rat than Obi," the coach said. "He is always in the gym after practice."

OSU returns to Stillwater for a Wednesday game against Mercer. It will be the Cowboys' first game at Gallagher-Iba Arena since Nov. 23. By Staff Reports

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