Huskers Work Overtime for 78-75 Victory over OSU

Lincoln, Neb. (AP) - Cookie Belcher scored 27 points and put Nebraska up for good in overtime Wednesday in a 78-75 win over Oklahoma State, which was playing its first road game since a fatal plane crash on the way back from a game at Colorado last month.

Kimani Ffriend responded to losing his starting job with 17 points and eight rebounds for the Cornhuskers (11-11, 4-5 Big 12), who gave up two second half leads and nearly let it get away in overtime.

Belcher opened the OT with a short jump shot and added a free throw that put Nebraska up 75-74 with 1:25 remaining. Ffriend added a free throw to give Nebraska a two-point lead.

Maurice Baker, who led the Cowboys (14-5, 5-3) with 22 points, hit a free throw with 18 seconds left in overtime to pull Oklahoma State within 76-75, then the Cowboys were forced to foul Cary Cochran, a 95-percent free throw shooter.

Cochran went 1-for-2, but the Cowboys turned the ball over and Cochran got another chance after getting fouled again with 12 seconds left and went 1-for-2 again to finish with 14 points.

Belcher picked off an inbounds pass at the buzzer to seal it.

Melvin Sanders and Victor Williams each scored 14 for Oklahoma State, which was outrebounded 42-31.

The game was Oklahoma State's first on the road since the Jan. 27 crash in Colorado that killed two players and eight other members of the traveling party. It didn't appear to be much of a factor.

After getting a round of applause as they hit the floor and a moment of silence before the game, the Cowboys were solid in the first half, going on an 11-0 run at one point.

The Cowboys had to rally from two second half deficits and forced overtime on Andre Williams' dunk that tied it at 70 with 18 seconds remaining. Belcher tried to win it by driving for a layup with about five seconds left, but was called for a charge, then Baker's long 3-pointer at the buzzer was way off for the Cowboys.

The Huskers increased their halftime lead to 12 points early in the second half. Belcher spun Baker around just inside midcourt then drove for a layup that gave Nebraska a 45-35 lead with 17:50 left, then after a time out he made a steal and fed Steffon Bradford for a dunk.

Nebraska led 40-33 at halftime after closing the first half on a 16-3 run that ended on four consecutive 3-pointers. Cochran hit one from beyond the arch to pull Nebraska within 33-31, then Belcher hit three straight 3's.

The Huskers shot 15-for-29 in the first half.

Ffriend was benched for Brian Conklin after going scoreless Saturday in a loss to Colorado.

Nebraska Postgame Notes vs. Oklahoma State
*-Cookie Belcher tied several season and career highs in tonight's overtime victory. He tied his career high with 27 points (also against Oral Roberts and Eastern Illinois earlier this season) and equaled his collegiate best with eight steals (also against Texas Tech on 2/20/1999). He has seven 20-point games this season, including three in the past four games. He also moved into sole possession of ninth place on NU scoring charts, passing Venson Hamilton (1,416 points from 1996-99). He was 9 of 13 from the floor, including a perfect 4-of-4 shooting from the 3-point range, tying a career high. He has averaged 21.3 points per game over the past four contests. The Mexico, Mo., native moved into third place on NU's career assist charts with his team-high seven assists (also tying a season high set against UMKC on 12/9/00), passing Tyronn Lue, who had 432 assists from 1996-98.

*- In addition to his offensive effort, Belcher also moved into the top 10 of the NCAA career steals list with his career-high tying eight thefts this evening. He also had eight at Texas Tech (2/20/99) as a junior two seasons ago, eclipsing his previous season high of six against Iona on Dec. 20. He moved past Chris Corchiani of N.C. State (328), Greg Anthony of UNLV (329), Jason Hart of Syracuse (329) and Keith Jennings of East Tennessee State (334) for eighth place on NCAA career steals lists. He now has 336 career steals and needs eight more to break into the top five all time.

*- NU's win against the Cowboys ends a two-game losing streak against OSU, dating back to a 67-62 victory in Stillwater in the 1997-98 season. It is NU's first win in Lincoln against Oklahoma State since the 1996-97 season.

*- Nebraska improves to 1-1 in overtime games this season, falling at Minnesota, 74-70, on Dec. 27 and to 5-6 in games decided by four points or less during the 2000-01 season.

*-NU established season highs in both assists (20) and turnovers (25), while also tied a season high with 15 steals. Previous highs were 18 assists (six times this season); 24 turnovers at Missouri (1/6) and 15 steals against Murray State (12/30).

*- NU has held 18 of its 22 opponents under 50 percent shooting from the floor, including three of the past four under 42 percent. The Huskers also improve to 3-7 in game where they are held under 50 percent. The Huskers also out-rebounded OSU, 42-31.

*-With his four three-pointers this evening, Cary Cochran has now connected on at least one three-pointer in 15 consecutive games, and in 26 of the past 27 contests dating back to last season.

*- Led by Belcher and Cochran, who combined for all eight of NU's three pointers, the Huskers shot better than 50 percent from the three-point line for the seventh time this season.

*- Nebraska's 40 first-half points was NU's best total since scoring 40 points against Kent State on Dec. 21, 2000. It marks just the fifth time this season the Huskers have scored 40 or more points in a half this season.

*- John Robinson set a NU career best with five assists, topping his previous high of three (at Missouri and vs. Colorado), while Wilson Thomas established a career high with his six rebounds, tripling his previous best of two (set on four occasions)

*- Brian Conklin earned the second start of his Husker career against the Cowboys this evening. He also started the season opener against Oral Roberts. He finished the evening with eight points, four rebounds, five assists and a pair of blocked shots in 27 minutes.

Nebraska vs. Oklahoma State
Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2001

Nebraska Head Coach Barry Collier
ON THE GAME OVERALL:
"I'm excited and a little drained. This was a very hard-fought game. I'm really impressed with Oklahoma State and the different ways they can attack. We made just an unbelievable amount of errors. We were fortunate our defense was as strong as it was."

ON BOTH TEAM'S MENTAL GAME:
"I thought our guys did a good job of just trying to play and I think their guys did too. I have great admiration for their team to battle the way they did. They could have easily cracked, as any team could have, especially with what they've been through."

ON COOKIE BELCHER'S FIRST-HALF PLAY:
"I thought he was aggressive in the first half. He got on a role with great confidence. He was seeking the ball. He was on a roll shooting. Credit him with a hot hand."

Oklahoma Head Coach Eddie Sutton
ON THE GAME OVERALL
"I thought at the beginning of the ballgame that we had nothing in our gas tank. Then we sparked out. At halftime, I was really concerned. Our guys looked beaten, but we fought back and had a chance to win the game."

ON THE TEAM'S ENDURANCE:
"I thought this afternoon - at the pregame meal and in the shoot-around - that we were in pretty good shape. That game Monday night took a lot out of us. I don't want to make excuses. We had a chance to win. At the end of regulation we had a chance and couldn't make the play."

ON THE PLAY OF FREDRICK JONZEN AND ANDRE WILLIAMS:
"When Fred and Andre don't play well, it's tough to win. We depend too much on those guys."