(Phoenix, AZ) The Annual Jerry Colangelo Classic featured teams from Oklahoma and Arizona.
The first game pitted the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the Grand Canyon Antelopes. The Big XII vs the Mountain West.
The nightcap featured the Arizona State Sun Devils and Oklahoma Sooners. The Big XII vs Southeast Conference.
Photo – Catherine Wong
First Half
Both teams started slow until GCU hit consecutive three pointers to go up. 13-7 at the fifteenth minute mark,
As the first half progressed, both teams picked up the tempo and the shooting improved as well.
Caleb Shaw for the Lopes was perfect from the field (4-4) at the 11:30 mark and led all scorers with 10 points.
Parsa Fallah was also hadn’t missed a shot (3-3) for 9 points for OSU.
The Cowboys got the bulk of their scoring in the paint with 12 points midway through the first half.
Grand Canyon cooled off from the field as the Cowboys took a four point lead 23-19 with 8 minute left.
Oklahoma State hadn’t made a three pointer (0-6) in the half with 6:20 left on the clock.
GCU got a four point possession after a technical foul was called on the Cowboys after a monster dunk and a stare down to pull within three 31-28.
Each time the Antelopes pulled within two or three points, OSU would get a couple of quick hoops to widen the lead.
With 1:50 left, Dusty Stromer pulled Grand Canyon within one on a three pointer at 38-37.
The half finished off with the Cowboys ahead 42-39.
Photo – Catherine Wong
Halftime
OSU shot 52% (15-29) with GCU at 44% (14-32). Five Antelope treys kept them close.
Second Half
The Cowboys finally got a couple of three’s to fall to open up the second half. Another advantage OSU had at the first media timeout was they were 14-18 from the charity stripe with GCU 7-11.
Brian Moore Jr, hit a timely three to pull the Lopes within a possession 58-55 with just over 12 minutes left.
At the midway point of the second half, Oklahoma State continued to stave off the GCU onslaught. Whenever the score got tight, the Cowboys would reach into their bag of tricks to preserve their lead.
Finally, Caleb Shaw’s three put the Lopes back in the lead 63-62 and followed up with a dunk 65-62 forcing OSU to call timeout with 8:16 left in regulation.
At 6:51, the Pokes retook the lead 68-67 off s pair of free throws to set up a wild finish.
A flagrant foul from Grand Canyon at the 5:34 point took OSU up by a basket 69-67, but they continued with a 6-2 run and a 75-60 advantage with just under 4 minutes left.
GCU valiantly tried to stay close, but the bigger Cowboys kept pounding it the paint and maintained a 77-71 lead with 2:20 left.
The Antelopes’ outside shot went cold and the clock was their enemy as well with 1:31 left.
Makaih Williams hit a pressure three to draw GCU within one possession 79-76 and 47 seconds left.
Oklahoma State hit the dagger with 37 seconds left off a three point jiumper from the left wing for a 84-78 victory for the Pokes.
Photo – Catherine Wong
Wrap Up
GCU Played Oklahoma State even throughout the game, but couldn’t contain their inside game as they shot 58% from the field and 65% in the second half.
Oklahoma State remained undefeated, but were taken to the limit by a scrappy but undermanned GCU squad that will soon start Mountain West play in their inaugural season after they put themselves on the national map in the Western Athletic Conference.
Up Next
The Antelopes take on Coastal Carolina at home on December 13th at 6 p.m.
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