Tulsa World: Cowboys roll over the Rams

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Cowboys roll over the Rams
James Anderson scores 33 in the All-College win.

OSU's James Anderson, shown being fouled by Rhode Island's Kahiem Seawright, scored 33 points for the Cowboys on Saturday. STEPHEN HOLMAN/Tulsa World

By JIMMIE TRAMEL World Sports Writer
Published: 12/21/2008 2:20 AM
Last Modified: 8/20/2009 9:35 AM

OKLAHOMA CITY — The high point and low point of James Anderson's college basketball career came in the same venue.

Anderson scored a career-high 33 points and Byron Eaton scored all 22 of his points in the second half to fuel Oklahoma State to an 86-82 victory over Rhode Island in the All-College Classic at the Ford Center.

The Cowboys, who hadn't played a game decided by fewer than nine points all season, iced the outcome by making 11-of-12 free throws in the final 3:29.

Last season, in an All-College loss to Oral Roberts, Anderson was scoreless for the only time in his career. In fact, he thinks it was the first time he was shut out in his life — high school, junior high, backyard, whatever.

"I was so disappointed after that game," Anderson said. "It was a big breakdown for me after that game. It was a shock to me. That's when I kind of hit the wall."

But Anderson had such a good vibe Saturday night that he said he felt like he could have "thrown it from the other end and it would have went in."

The sophomore guard and former McDonald's All-American scored 23 of OSU's first 48 points and was praised by coach Travis Ford for playing a complete game instead of just being a 3-point shooter. Anderson made 12-of-17 shots and was 6-of-9 on 3-pointers, but he also had career-highs in rebounds (nine) and steals (four).

"James proved why he is one of the best players in the country," Ford said.

OSU improved to 8-3 with its first win over a top-50 RPI team this season and the Cowboys are 10-0 the last two seasons when Anderson scores at least 20 points.

Rhode Island fell to 8-4 and has lost four consecutive games to Ford-coached teams. Ford won his last three games against the Rams when he was at Massachusetts.

Eaton enhanced his reputation as player who packs his A-game for All-College trips. He scored 15, 10 and 16 in three previous All-Colleges, but didn't like the aftertaste of a 15-point loss to ORU at the Ford Center last season.

"Just from the standpoint of coach Sean (Sutton), I was disappointed because we were playing against his brother and I didn't think we put up a good enough fight to represent our coach," Eaton said. "I came back with vengeance on my mind because we lost last year and I knew (Rhode Island) was a big rival for coach Ford. I think I got those two early fouls because I was a little too aggressive."

Eaton was scoreless in eight first-half minutes. He watched from the bench as Rhode Island uncorked a 14-0 run (biggest by an OSU opponent this season) late in the first half to lead by six.

"My whole thing was I told my team I was going to put them on my back and I was going to carry them," he said. "I was talking to the coaches in the tunnel and I told them my team kept us in it and now it's time for me to take over."

Jimmie Tramel 581-8389
jimmie.tramel@tulsaworld.com

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