STILLWATER, Okla., 21 November 2004 — John Lucas scored a game-high 24 points to lead No. 7 Oklahoma State to a lopsided 91-53 win over Northwestern State at Gallagher-Iba Arena.
Joey Graham added 18 points and nine rebounds for the Cowboys (1-0), who are returning four starters from last year’s team that lost to Georgia Tech in the Final Four. Ivan McFarlin contributed 14 points and Jameson Curry chipped in 12 in the victory.
Oklahoma State, which is expected to once again contend for the Big 12 Conference championship, as well as a national championship, has five seniors in its starting lineup to go along with a deep bench for head coach Eddie Sutton. Jermaine Spencer scored 10 points for the Demons (0-1), who are returning five starters and are scheduled to play nine teams this year that made last season’s NCAA Tournament. Oklahoma State jumped out to a 7-2 lead on Graham’s jumper with 16:25 left in the first half and increased the margin to eight points on Curry’s three-pointer just over seven minutes later. The Cowboys maintained their eight-point lead at 28-20 late in the first half, but then put the game out of reach courtesy of a 9-0 run. Graham scored four points during the spurt and Lucas capped the surge with a jumper as Oklahoma State seized a commanding 37-20 advantage with 1:55 left in the first half.
Syracuse Pull Out Victory Over Memphis
In New York, Hakim Warrick scored 25 points and Gerry McNamara added 21, as fifth-ranked Syracuse pulled away late for a 77-62 victory over No. 24 Memphis in the championship game of the Coaches versus Cancer Classic at Madison Square Garden.Warrick was named the tournament MVP for the Orange (4-0).
Rodney Carney scored 25 points to lead Memphis (3-1), but had only five in the second half. Carney poured in 33 during Thursday’s win over St. Mary’s. Sean Banks and Darious Washington each chipped in 13 points for the Tigers. The game was tied at 51-51 on a bucket by Banks with just over eight minutes remaining, but Syracuse soon pulled away. Warrick made two free throws to give the Orange the lead for good and Demtris Nichols followed with a three-pointer.
Santa Clara Shock 4th-Ranked N. Carolina
In Oakland, Calif., Travis Niesen scored a career-high 26 points, Kyle Bailey added 20 and Santa Clara shocked No. 4 North Carolina with a 77-66 victory in a Pete Newell Challenge game at The Arena. The Broncos (3-1) earned their first victory over a ranked opponent since beating a 19th-ranked Alabama squad in 1996. Doron Perkins added 11 points in the win.
Rashad McCants scored 20 to lead North Carolina (0-1), which was without suspended sophomore point guard Raymond Felton. Sean May added 19 points and Jawad Williams had 11 in the loss.
Top-Ranked Kansas Hold Off Upset-Minded Vermont
In Lawrence, Kan., Wayne Simien had 25 points and 14 rebounds as the top-ranked Kansas Jayhawks survived a scare and fought off the Vermont Catamounts, 68-61. Keith Langford and J.R. Giddens each added 12 for the Jayhawks (1-0), who won despite committing 16 turnovers. Vermont trailed by three points at intermission, 31-28, and scored the first basket of the second half to pull within 31-30. But a Simien bucket and an Aaron Miles’ three-pointer built a 36-30 advantage for the Jayhawks 90 seconds into the second half. Taylor Coppenrath scored six points during an 11-4 run that lifted the Catamounts a 41-40 lead with just under 14 minutes left in regulation. A 6-1 burst, sparked by a Michael Lee three-pointer, pushed Kansas ahead 46-42.
No. 6 Illinois Beat Delaware State in Season Debut
In Champaign, Ill., Dee Brown scored 17 points to lead a balanced attack, as sixth-ranked Illinois opened its season with an 87-67 victory over Delaware State at Assembly Hall.
Luther Head and James Augustine each chipped in 15 points, while Deron Williams added 12 for the Illini (1-0). Illinois, which returns all five starters from last year’s Big Ten championship team, shot 64 percent and hit 12-of-22 from three-point range.
Delaware State held a first-half lead and played very well on the offensive end, hitting 57 percent from the field. However the Hornets were outrebounded 27-12.
No. 3 Georgia Tech Open Season With Easy Win
In Atlanta, Jarrett Jack scored 20 points and B.J. Elder added 15, as third-ranked Georgia Tech opened its season with a 74-37 rout of Alabama State at Alexander Memorial Coliseum. Isma’il Muhammad chipped in nine points and 10 rebounds for the Yellow Jackets (1-0), who used a big run to start the game and another to close it.
