Texas A&M
(#8) Oklahoma State
Aggies Fall at No. 8 Oklahoma State, 69-63
Mar 02, 2005 | Men's Basketball
March 02, 2005
John Lucas III scored 27 points, Joey Graham added 16 and No. 8 Oklahoma State beat Texas A&M 69-63 on Wednesday night, its closest home win of the season.
The Cowboys, coming off consecutive losses for the first time all season, didn't score a field goal in the final 5 minutes, but they hit 15 straight free throws down the stretch to hold off the Aggies. The win was the Cowboys' 29th straight in Gallagher-Iba Arena and extended the nation's longest home winning streak.
Graham gave the Cowboys (21-5, 11-4 Big 12) the lead for good with a three-point play with 5:24 to play. After getting the ball, Graham faked out Antoine Wright, whirled to the basket and scored. His free throw put Oklahoma State ahead 55-52. The Cowboys didn't make another field goal, but it didn't matter.
Lucas and Graham each hit six free throws and JamesOn Curry made both of his tries as Oklahoma State held on.
The Aggies (18-8, 7-8) were within 59-58 after Wright's long jumper from the right wing, but that was as close as they would get. Lucas scored the next six points for Oklahoma State from the free throw line and Graham added four more.
The Aggies, seeking a road win to bolster their chances for their first NCAA tournament berth since 1987, gave Oklahoma State trouble for the second time this season. The Aggies lost 66-59 in College Station on Feb. 12. Each of Oklahoma State's other 19 wins have been by double figures.
Acie Law IV scored 22 points to lead Texas A&M, which has lost 10 straight to Oklahoma State and hasn't won in Stillwater since the 1922-23 season. Wright added 18 points and Joseph Jones finished with 10.
The Aggies rallied from a nine-point first-half deficit to tie the game at 35 on Law's driving layup, but Lucas hit a 3-pointer from the left corner and Curry added another from the right wing to put the Cowboys back on top.
After A&M cut the lead to 41-39 on another layup by Law, Ivan McFarlin hit two free throws and Lucas drilled a 3-pointer from three steps behind the arc to stretch the lead to seven. But the Cowboys couldn't shake the Aggies.
Wright and Leach made 3-pointers to keep A&M close, and Wright drew them even with another 3 from the left side. Law followed with a fast-break layup for Texas A&M's only lead of the second half, 52-50.
Lucas hit a jumper to tie it again and A&M missed its next four shots before Graham's three-point play put Oklahoma State ahead to stay.
