Oklahoman columnist Berry Tramel offers five memorable moments in Gallagher-Iba’s basketball history.

Through 999 OSU basketball games in Gallagher-Iba Arena, here are the five most memorable:

1. Feb. 21, 1957: Down goes Wilt

Wilt Chamberlain played twice in Stillwater. The first, as a sophomore, brought a circus-comesto-town atmosphere. Chamberlain, already a mythic figure, would lead Kansas to the NCAA championship game that season. He scored 32 points on the Cowboys that night.

But Henry Iba’s team, including junior guard Eddie Sutton, played KU tough, and Mel Wright nailed a last-second shot to give the Cowboys a 56-54 upset.

2. Feb. 24, 1993: Big (Cross) Country

Bryan Reeves’ most famous shot was not a dunk or a patented turnaround jumper. Big Country’s most famous shot was a halfcourt heave, after Missouri took a 64-61 lead with three seconds left.

The 7-footer caught a half-court inbounds pass, turned and banked in a shot from 40 feet away. Gallagher-Iba Arena exploded, and the Cowboys won going away in overtime.

3. Jan. 16, 2007: Super Mario

Kevin Durant introduced himself to Oklahomans with 37 points and 12 rebounds for Texas. But Durant wasn’t the hero that night.

Mario Boggan, a juniorcollege transfer, also had 37 points, added 15 rebounds and nailed the game-winning shot, a hurried 3-pointer with 3.3 seconds left that gave OSU a 105-103 victory in triple overtime.

4. Dec. 6, 1980: Halfcourt Hannon

Most OSU basketball heroics came in the eras of Iba or Sutton.

But in between, defending national champion Louisville visited Gallagher Hall.

The Cardinals, leading by one point, missed a foul shot with four seconds left, Eddie Hannon grabbed the rebound, dribbled upcourt and launched a shot just before the midcourt line. It swished through, and the Cowboys had a 74-73 victory.

5. Feb. 23, 1946: Kurland’s record

Henry Iba’s program had quite a rivalry with Ed Hickey’s Saint Louis University. But this game was not competitive — Oklahoma A&M routed the Billikens 86-33. The drama was in Bob Kurland’s point total.

The original 7-footer piled up the points and got within reach of George Mikan’s national record of 53.

With 2½ minutes left, Kurland surpassed the total. He finished with 58 points, which remains the OSU record.

[OKLAHOMAN ARCHIVES] Mario Boggan launches the game-winning shot against Kevin Durant-led Texas in 2007.

[OKLAHOMAN ARCHIVES] Henry Iba coached 36 seasons in Stillwater. His teams won two national championships.