The Oklahoman

Cowboys fall in OT to Tech

- By Nathan Ruiz Staff Writer nruiz@oklahoman.com

Behind a final minute for the ages, Lindy Waters carried Oklahoma State to the brink Wednesday night. The Cowboys fell in overtime, 84-80, at No. 11 Texas Tech, with Waters' four 3-pointers in regulation's final minute forcing the extra period and another tying the game during it. But OSU, down to seven scholarshi­p players, didn't have enough to finish the upset. Here are three takeaways from Wednesday's overtime contest: Lindy late, Dizzy early The final minute of regulation belonged to Waters. Waters made four straight 3-pointers in the final 55 seconds, the last tying the game at 71 at the buzzer. He then hit another during the period to even the score at 78. Waters finished the game with career highs in points (26), 3-pointers (seven) and minutes (44). Waters carried the Cowboys in the second half, but the early portion belonged to Thomas Dziagwa. For the third time in four games, Dziagwa scored at least 20 points on at least six 3-pointers. The performanc­e pushed him to sixth in program history for single-season 3s. After the duo of captains tied a season low with two

3-pointers between them in Saturday's loss to Kansas State, they combined to go 13-for19 from deep Wednesday. OSU as whole made a program-record 17 3s, surpassing the previous mark of 15. Dynamic Dee Dee Mitchell's last name is not on the back of his No. 31 jersey. But with a shot in Wednesday's game, he put OSU on his back. Mitchell, one of five walk-ons added to the roster since mid-January, sank a go-ahead 3-pointer with 3:35 left in regulation. His first basket at OSU completed a 10-point run to put the Cowboys ahead 59-58. OSU once trailed by 14 and never led until Mitchell's 3-pointer, but the lead was short lived. The Red Raiders answered with seven straight points and never fell behind again. In overtime, Mitchell was fouled on a 3-point attempt, making two of his foul shots. He finished with five points in 12 minutes. OSU led for only 17 seconds Wednesday, that lead coming from a walk-on out of Jefferson, Texas, who wasn't added to the roster until two weeks ago. McGriff's struggles continue Before Cam McGriff opened the Cowboys' overtime scoring with a jumper, Waters made as many 3-pointers in the last minute of regulation as McGriff had made baskets in the past four games. In OSU's matchup with the Red Raiders two weeks ago, McGriff made six baskets, but after a 2-for11 shooting performanc­e Wednesday, McGriff is 5-for-32 from the floor in the four games since. Coach Mike Boynton had said McGriff is `not 100 percent,' but that doesn't fully explain a questionab­le 3-point attempt with 25 seconds left in overtime. Had it fallen, the Cowboys would've taken their second lead.

 ?? [BRAD TOLLEFSON/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS] ?? Oklahoma State's Lindy Waters III shoots during the first half of the Cowboys game against Texas Tech Wednesday night in Lubbock, Texas. The Red Raiders won 84-80.
[BRAD TOLLEFSON/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS] Oklahoma State's Lindy Waters III shoots during the first half of the Cowboys game against Texas Tech Wednesday night in Lubbock, Texas. The Red Raiders won 84-80.
 ?? [BRAD TOLLEFSON/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS] ?? Oklahoma State's Yor Anei (14) shoots over Texas Tech's Tariq Owens (11) during the Red Raiders 84-80 win Wednesday night in Lubbock, Texas.
[BRAD TOLLEFSON/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS] Oklahoma State's Yor Anei (14) shoots over Texas Tech's Tariq Owens (11) during the Red Raiders 84-80 win Wednesday night in Lubbock, Texas.

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