I'm sure most of the Bluegrass was catching the UK vs. USC action on ESPN. But, if you didn't turn the channel to ESPN2, you missed what was possibly the most exicting basketball game in the several years.
Oklahoma State vs. Texas at the Hallowed Halls of Historic Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater, OK.
This was a classic struggle, a 3OT 105-103 win for the Cowboys.
(Let me say that I work for OSU's Radio Broadcast and used to do the same for Texas a few years ago. One of my other jobs is working for Host Communications, the people that bring you the Big Blue Network.)
UK/USC and UT/OSU tipped off at the same time last night, 9pm. If you stayed with the Blowout UK win and you are a TRUE basketball fan, you really missed a show.
Kevin Durant, the Freshman sensation for the young Longhorns, leading the Big 12 in Scoring and Rebounding, plays 52 minutes and matches his career high for Points with 37. Rick Barnes' Freshman and Sophomore loaded team was back in the Top 25, just like Kentucky, for the first time since November.
On the Cowboys side, there's just 7 scholarship players and 1 walk-on. Thier Freshman sensation, Obi Muonello, a Guard who helped the Cowboys win in the early part of the year with HUGE games, broke his leg in one of Sean Sutton's PRACTICES and is unavailable for the duration of the season. Terrell Harris had his eye socket busted in a game a few weeks ago and had to wear a protective mask. He took it off to play THIS GAME!
Texas rolls out to a 9-point lead early, only be pushed by the Cowboys, who wind up leading at the Half, 38-36.
Out of the Half, The Longhorns go on another 9 point surge and OSU answers.
In the 2nd half, possibly the shot of the Season, with the Shot Clock squeezing out the final seconds on an OSU possession, Byron Eaton tosses a wild shot from the Sideline, near half court, A BASEBALL PASS that drains!
Durrant logs 52 minutes in the game. Equals HIS Big 12 Freshman record 37 points in this game.
Both teams slug it out like prize fighters. Texas' D. J. Augustin tied the game with a 3 at 13 seconds left in regulation... They start the OT with OSU down to just 6 players as Eaton and F Marcus Dove foul out near the end of regulation. One of those 6, Kenny Cooper, had strep throat and tried to go but couldn't, he played 6 minutes early and sat out the rest of the game. The OTHER of the 6 (who are now just 5 with Cooper out for illness.) is walk-on Tyler Hatch, who was doing his best Wolverine impersonation with the Hair. Hatch books 33 minutes in the game including ALL of the 3OT periods.
As we wind down regulation and head to the first OT, we find out that Sean Sutton had slipped on ICE after his Radio Show Monday Night and had back spasms througout the game, including a scary incident with :13 to play in regulation where he almost fainted on the Sidelines.
First OT: Tied at 81 with 7.8 to play, David Monds hits a 2 to go up 83-81. Augustin hits a reverse layup @ :2.9 and it's tied at 83 at the end of OT #1.
Second OT: with :8.8 to play, Boggan gets blocked by Durrant with OSU up 93-91. Durrant goes coast to coast with the slam to tie it at 93 with :06 to play. Later, Durrant tries a 3 at the Buzzer but it doesn't go in.
Third OT: One for the Ages... Texas, down 100-97 gets a 3 from Conner Atchley to go ahead by 1 with 1:47 left. OSU edges ahead 102-100 as the clock winds down again to :12.7.
Kevin Durant gets the Hoop and the Harm to lead the game for the Longhorns with 10.5 to play in OT #3. Texas is up 103-102 with the clock expiring.
Then, the improbable... Mario Boggan, who has played all but 1 minute in this 55 minute masterpiece, and is 5-33 on the season from 3-point land, with a man hanging on him, buries a 3 and the Cowboys go ahead 105-103 with 3.2 left.
Texas brings the ball down in hopes of tying it and sending it to a 4th overtime but, you can't do that when you WALK while bringing up-court.
Game over, Durant ties a career high with 37 and 12 boards. Going 13-31 from the field. Boggan trumps Durant with a 37 point, 20 rebound game.
WHEW! Now, your job: See if it's an Instant Classic no ESPN Classic and TIVO it, never erasing it. It was magic!
Did you see the game or did you stay with the UK Blowout win? What's the greatest game YOU ever saw? The Bayou Miracle? Tubby Beating Duke in the NCAA's? The Christian Lattener game? Let us know!
1 comment:
My personal favorite was the UK/Alabama game last year in the SEC tourney.
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