NIT’s deeper 3-point line is challenge for Cowboys in tourney

STILLWATER — A deeper 3-point line provided an early challenge to the Oklahoma State basketball team Tuesday night.

The Cowboys missed their first seven 3-pointers in their first-round NIT game against Florida Gulf Coast at Gallagher-Iba Arena. A white water-soluble paint marked a 3-point line 20 inches farther from the baskets to 22 feet, 1.75 inches, the distance used for International Basketball Federation competition. The deeper 3-point line was among four experimental rules the NIT will employ throughout the tournament, including a switch from halves to quarters.

Cam McGriff nailed a 3 with 7:22 to play in the second quarter, and Lindy

Waters followed with another shortly after. After missing their first seven attempts from deep, the Cowboys went 4-for-7 from 3 to end the half leading 37-26.

Sima overcomes eye injury

A foul to the face could only partially hamper Yankuba Sima’s newfound prowess from the free-throw line. The junior center entered the Big 12 Tournament 11-for-29 on free-throw attempts, but Sima then made all three of his tries in an 11-point performance against Kansas in the tournament’s quarterfinals.

He continued that success in Tuesday’s first half, sinking two early free throws. After Raysean Scott

Jr. hit him in the eye, Sima went to the line and hit his first attempt despite trying to blink away the pain throughout the shot.

Sima missed the latter try, but he finished with five points in his six first-half minutes.

Eagles’ offense doesn’t soar

The first half was an offensive struggle for Florida Gulf Coast.

The Eagles had 12 turnovers, enabling the Cowboys to turn an 11-all tie into 11-point halftime lead.

FGCU started 4-for-15 from the floor, but the Eagles came on late, making six of their final nine shots of the half.

That includes a halfcourt buzzer beater from Brandon Goodwin, the Atlantic Sun Player of the Year, to end the second quarter. At halftime, Goodwin had 11 points on 5-of10 shooting, but he was the only Eagle with more than two baskets.

Oklahoma State’s Cameron McGriff catches the ball between Florida Gulf Coast’s Antravious Simmons and Zach Johnson during Tuesday’s NIT basketball game between Oklahoma State University and Florida Gulf Coast at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater.