Published: November 18, 2008 03:55 pm         

‘Big Game James’

Anderson shines as OSU wins

Oklahoma State coach Travis Ford turned to his sophomore guard James Anderson just before tip off on Monday night and told him, “Be big time tonight.”

When Ford came to OSU, the Cowboys dubbed Anderson “Big Game James,” and although some may think of former Lakers forward James Worthy by that nickname, Anderson was worthy of the distinction against North Texas at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Oklahoma State’s 100-88 victory against North Texas.

“I told him, ‘I’ve heard all these things about you James. It’s time to show me what you’re made of,’” Ford said. “It’s time for you to just let loose.”

Anderson relished the stage that was left vacant by point guard Byron Eaton and center Ibrahima Thomas, who were both in severe foul trouble, and came out of his long-distance-shooter mold to give OSU (2-0) a much-needed lift in the absence of its senior point guard. The forward, who is more known for his outside jump shot, turned a baseline cut into a reverse alley-oop from guard Terrel Harris and continued his aggressive play from that moment forward, finishing the game with 28 points and eight rebounds.

“He finished around the basket, which he hadn’t been doing,” Ford said. “He made his threes, which we all know he can do. I liked his performance around the rim, finishing and being strong with the basketball. … (He was) the best I’ve seen him (Monday) with the basketball with his hands.”

Thomas and Eaton combined for only 11 minutes in the first half and Thomas scored the only basket between them. With Eaton on the bench, freshman Keiton Page turned into Anderson’s running mate and took the reins of the team in only his second game as a Cowboy and scored 20 points in the process.

“When you shoot the ball, it makes you look really good, and he did,” Ford said. “His threes made a big difference, it gave us confidence, it brought some life in to us. Pretty good game for a second game of his college career.”

OSU didn’t score its first basket from the field until four minutes into the contest, but a 13-1 run only a few moments later gave OSU its first lead, but also a margin that they would hold on to for the rest of the contest.

“If they get going they’ll be very difficult to beat,” North Texas coach Johnny Jones said. “They are a good ball handling team and a good passing team.”

Harris chipped in 21 points and OSU had three 20-point scorers for the first time since 2001. Maurice Baker (26), Fredrik Jonzen (26), Victor Williams (20) all combined to score more than 20 the last time the feat happened, but this time the accomplishment featured a back-up guard.

“When (Page) comes in he can shoot it, and that’s exactly what he did tonight,” North Texas guard Josh White said. “You can’t give him any room, at all.”

Forward Obi Muenelo also finished in double digits with 14 points.

“We just try to push the ball and share it, drive it and find the open guy,” Anderson said. “On any night any one of us can go for 20.”

With Thomas on the bench in foul trouble and three other forwards off the court in the same predicament, the combination of guards picked up the slack on the offensive and defensive glass. Muonelo, Harris and Anderson all pulled down or matched career-highs in rebounds. Muonelo and Harris both grabbed nine boards, while Anderson snagged eight.

The two teams combined for 58 personal fouls, 83 free throws and 100 rebounds — 57 rebounds from the Mean Green (1-1).

“It’s not reminiscent of my style of teams,” Ford said. “They shot more shots than we did, they went to the foul line 50 times, … they out rebound us by fourteen. Just some wild-looking stats, but then you look down and we won by 12.”

Thomas, Eaton and forward Anthony Brown all fouled out for the Cowboys, but before Eaton left, Ford gave the fans a first glimpse at what he had been promising all preseason. After a timeout, five guards checked into the game for the Cowboys, but 20 seconds later another forward entered the game.

Amidst all the chaos in the broken tempo of the game, Anderson stood out. Not because of his point total, but because he finally lived up to the billing Ford had been waiting to see.

“Coach had told after last game that I had to be more aggressive on the offensive end and defensive end,” Anderson said.

     

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