OKLAHOMA CITY -- For the Cowboys of Oklahoma State University, there has been a lot of talk about the legitimacy of its No. 5 national ranking. After downing Ball State 82-70, the Cardinals think OSU is a contender.
The Cowboys' Maurice Baker led the game with 22 points shooting 7-15 from the field, as Oklahoma State remained undefeated raising its record to 13-0.
"(Baker) is as good as any guard in college basketball," head coach Tim Buckley said. "They are as good as any team we've played and are very worthy of their ranking."
The Cardinals (7-4) began the second half looking to increase their three-point lead 37-34. Ball State jumped out by five over the Cowboys before OSU embarked on an 11-3 run with 11 minutes remaining, causing the Cards to fight back the rest of the way.
"We didn't guard the dribble like we needed to and we didn't go after loose balls like we needed to," Buckley said. "In the second half, our defense didn't get back into transition when we needed to."
Oklahoma State scored 48 points in the second half, 26 coming in the last eight minutes of the ball game.
"Most of those points came from the free-throw line," senior guard Petie Jackson said. "We gave up some huge offensive rebounds and that was the turning point for us."
Jackson finished the game with 19 points shooting 5-14 from the field and 3-7 from behind the three-point line.
Junior forward Theron Smith also tallied 19 points and 10 rebounds before fouling out of the game with three minutes left on a pushing foul
"He was having a great offensive night and losing him was huge," Jackson said.
"It really changed the momentum of the game," Buckley said.
Ball State returns to action on Wednesday when the Cards open the Mid-American Conference season at Kent State.
"I told the guys that one-third of our season is over and we have two-thirds to go," Buckley said. "Right now we are 0-0."
BALL STATE (7-4)
Smith 8-15 2-4 19, Jones 4-8 0-1 8, Jackson 5-14 6-7 19, C.Williams 5-15 1-2 13, McCollom 0-2 0-0 0, Robbins 0-1 0-0 0, Bennett 0-0 0-0 0, Willingham 2-3 0-2 4, Owens 3-5 0-0 7, Lynch 0-0 0-0 0, Burns 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 27-63 9-16 70.
OKLAHOMA STATE (13-0)
McFarlin 5-9 1-3 11, Sanders 3-5 2-2 9, Jonzen 5-12 2-5 12, Baker 7-15 6-7 22, V.Williams 5-10 4-4 17, Crawford 0-0 0-0 0, Broxsie 0-0 0-0 0, Gadson 3-7 0-0 6, A.Williams 2-2 1-6 5, Moore 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 30-60 16-27 82.
Halftime -- Ball St. 37, Oklahoma St. 34. 3-point goals -- Ball St. 7-21 (Jackson 3-7, C.Williams 2-8, Owens 1-2, Smith 1-3, McCollom 0-1), Oklahoma St. 6-14 (V.Williams 3-5, Baker 2-4, Sanders 1-3, Jonzen 0-1, Gadson 0-1). Fouled out -- Smith, C.Williams, V.Williams. Rebounds -- Ball St. 35 (Smith 10), Oklahoma St. 42 (McFarlin 11). Assists -- Ball St. 11 (Willingham 3), Oklahoma St. 16 (V.Williams 7). Total fouls -- Ball St. 27, Oklahoma St. 18. A -- 13,648.
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