Dec. 22, 2003

STILLWATER, OK-Oklahoma State showed why they are one of the best defensive teams in the nation in their game against The University of Texas-Pan American's men's basketball team Monday night. The Cowboys limited UTPA to just 35.7 per cent from the field on 20 of 56 shots and went on to a 96-61 victory at Gallagher-Iba Arena.

Texas-Pan American got off to a good start, with junior guard Eric Montalvo (La Joya, TX/La Joya HS) connecting on a three-pointer and senior forward Allen Holcomb (Chicago, IL/Steinmetz HS/Allen County CC) converting an offensive rebound and adding two free throws as the Broncs trailed early, 7-6. Junior guards Ray Castillo (San Antonio, TX/South San Antonio HS/Temple College) and Sergio Sanchez (San Antonio, TX/South San Antonio HS/Temple College) hit back-to-back treys to cut the Cowboys' lead to 14-12, but OSU responded with a 12-2 run to make it 26-14 with 8:30 remaining in the first half. The Cowboys steadily increased their lead and took a 46-27 lead into the locker room at halftime.

The Broncs used a 16-8 run at the start of the second half to cut Oklahoma State's lead to 13 points, 56-43 with 15:08 to play. Holcomb hit a jump shot during that run, Castillo connected on a three-pointer, and junior forward Chris Fagan (Bronx, NY/Storm King HS/Trinidad State) contributed a pair of treys. However, OSU used an 8-1 run to make it 64-44 three minutes later, and Texas-Pan American could get no closer.

"Against a team like this, we have to execute on more possessions than we did," said UIPA Head Coach Bob Hoffman. "We did hit some big shots when we got it down to 13, but then we had a few possessions and got empty trips where we didn't get a shot off, and we can't afford to do that. They got some easy layups, and they probably had 20 or 25 shot attempts from within two feet of the basket. They also got a lot of second shots, and we have to do a better job of blocking out. We had the effort and the intensity tonight, but we didn't finish the way we need to, and we still have to get better."

Castillo led the Broncs with 15 points on five of 11 shots, all from beyond the three-point line. Fagan added 14 points, while Sanchez had 10 points and eight assists.

OSU had six players in double figures. Ivan McFarlin had 17 points, John Lucas added 15, Janavor Weatherspoon had 13, Tony Allen had 11, and Joey Graham and Daniel Bobik had 10 apiece. Allen had seven rebounds as the Cowboys outrebounded Texas-Pan American, 35-27.

The Broncs fell to 3-8 with the defeat, while Oklahoma State improved to 7-1. UTPA will take a few days off for the holidays, and return to action when they visit Oklahoma next Monday evening, December 29th.