Cowboys draw rowdy crowd for GIA’s final game of season
STILLWATER — Although the result wasn’t what they wanted, Oklahoma State fans filled Gallagher-Iba Arena for its final game of the season.
Despite it being OSU’s spring break, Gallagher-Iba Arena saw its third-highest attendance of the season with 11,308 fans in Wednesday’s 92-84 loss to Western Kentucky in the NIT quarterfinals.
Only visits from Oklahoma and Kansas brought in more fans.
The Cowboys offered free admission to students and provided shirts featuring “Let’s Work,” the team slogan, and “Foundation Laid,” a sign of things to come under first-year coach Mike Boynton, to the first 5,000 fans.
The loss prevented the Cowboys from earning their 800th win in Gallagher-Iba Arena, as well as what would’ve been a school-record 16th home victory this season.
Throughout the game, the crowd was rowdy, Gallagher-Iba Arena’s regular trait.
It lasted until the final moments as the Cowboys’ season came to an end.
As those same fans exited the arena, Boynton grabbed a mic and addressed crowd.
“This is the beginning of this program coming back for you guys,” he said. “Thank you.”
OSU believes in future in wake of loss
Despite his red eyes, Boynton looked into the future.
“I want to coach in the final game of the college basketball season,” Boynton said. “And one day, because of this team, we will.”
Boynton said goodbye to three seniors, Kendall Smith, Mitchell Solomon and Jeffrey Carroll. He said he was disappointed for this season to end, but he knew it provided a foundation.
Given what OSU has gone through this season, from losing Boynton’s predecessor, Brad Underwood, to losing his top assistant, Lamont Evans, Boynton said this team changed the storylines.
Nearly a year ago, Boynton became OSU’s third coach in as many seasons. He spoke with confidence about a positive future.
“What we thought maybe 362 days ago versus what you saw tonight, I think, is a stark difference,” Boynton said. “There’s an extreme amount of optimism for what’s going on around here, and it’s because of those kids in that locker room.”
Hollingsworth matches career high
A plague in OSU’s first season under Boynton has been players setting career highs in scoring. The trend leaked into the Cowboys’ final game.
WKU’s Taveion Hollingsworth matched his career best with 30 points, making his first four 3-point attempts and going 9-for-17 from the field. With eight rebounds, as well, Hollingsworth’s complete performance allowed him to answer for each of OSU’s charges.
“I didn’t think I’d come out like this tonight,” Hollingsworth said. “Once I came out and made some shots, I realized I could keep doing it, so I did.”
Hollingsworth impressed Boynton on film, as well as in the Hilltoppers’ victory over USC in the NIT’s second round.
“I think part of the lesson is there are really good players everywhere,” Boynton said. “We couldn’t just figure out how to slow him down.”