Crowd gives Solomon standing ovation
STILLWATER — As the moment dawned on the Gallagher-Iba Arena crowd, fans rose to their feet. Mitchell
Solomon was exiting Eddie Sutton Court for possibly the final time.
In the fourth quarter of Oklahoma State’s 71-65 victory over Stanford in the second round of the NIT, Solomon, the Cowboys’ senior forward, fouled out, ending his night prematurely with 10 points and six rebounds. With the destination of OSU’s next game unknown, it’s possible Solomon won’t play in GIA again.
Solomon limped off the floor after receiving his fifth foul. Kendall Smith tried to grab Solomon’s arm to help him off the floor, but Solomon brushed him aside.
“He’s probably the toughest dude I’ve ever seen, met, played with, bottom line,”
Jeffrey Carroll said. “He’ll be fine.”
Solomon embraced his final steps off the court. With the crowd giving a standing ovation and chanting “MVP,” the title coach Mike
Boynton has assigned him, Solomon raised his right arm to acknowledge the crowd.
Solomon, who grew up an OSU fan in Bixby, has become a fan favorite with effort and reliability as his defining traits.
“If that was (foul) No. 4, as bad as he was hurt, he wouldn’t have come out of the game,” Boynton said. “He wouldn’t have let me take him out, and that’s what you appreciate about a senior, a guy who has literally emptied the tank for this program in every way imaginable and will go down as one of the true warriors.
“I could not imagine having a more reliable player in my first year as a head coach.”
GIA crowd fuels Cowboys to victory
It wasn’t only Solomon’s final moments that ignited the Gallagher-Iba Arena crowd.
Despite it being the first day of OSU’s spring break, 9,635 fans and students alike packed the arena. The fans in attendance fueled the Cowboys, providing energy throughout OSU’s victory.
“When we’re playing in Gallagher and we’ve got our fans they’re rowdy and they’re screaming, that uplifts us,” Smith said.
Carroll called the crowd “pretty shocking,” given the attendance OSU has seen for most of the year mixed with spring break.
Boynton clearly recognized their impact, beginning his opening statement Monday with appreciation for the crowd.
“Big part of that win goes to that crowd,” Boynton said. “They were terrific, tremendous obviously in numbers, but equally as good in energy and spirit.”
Technical on McGriff helps Cardinal rally
Clearly uncomfortable, Cam
McGriff issued a shove that seemed as if it could change the course of the game.
With OSU leading by three, McGriff defended a drive from Stanford’s KZ Okpala, taking a hit to the groin and issuing a foul. While bent over in pain, McGriff gave Okpala a shove and received a technical foul, as well.
The two fouls gave Stanford a quartet of free throws. The Cardinal hit three of them to tie the game at 34 before taking the lead on the subsequent possession. McGriff headed to the bench and finished the night with two points, but he was able to add four rebounds and four assists.