NCAA College Sports
Oklahoma St. vs. Tennessee (NCAA)
By Larry "L.A." Williams
Mar 20, 2009, 02:30 EST

NCAA Tournament – East Region 1^st Round

Tennessee “Volunteers” vs. Oklahoma State “Cowboys”

Oklahoma State upends Tennessee

Eaton’s 3pt play sends Vols home

University of Dayton, Dayton, OH

OSU Byron Eaton scored 20 points to lead OSU to victory.

Dayton, OH – Oklahoma State point guard Byron Eaton completed a three-point play with 7.2 seconds to play as the 8th seed “Cowboys” upended the 9th seeded Tennessee “Volunteers” to advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in Dayton, OH. OSU will meet the winner of the East Tennessee State/Pittsburgh winner played later today.

Tennessee had one last chance but a shot by Tyler Smith bounced off the rim as the horn sounded ending another disappointing tournament for the Vols and Head Coach Davey Pearl.

OSU jumped out to a 6-0 lead before the Vols stormed back to lead 9-8 on a three-pointer by Tyler Smith.

The lead switched back and forth several times during the first half. Tennessee would take a six point lead 32-25 on a lay-up by former 4SHOT Hoops and Tucker H.S. star Cameron Tatum. That would be the largest lead of the first half.

Carmeron "King Surpreme" Tatum hit some big shots but the Vols still fell to OSU.

Terrel Harris from OSU would knock down 4 of 4 free throws down the stretch for the Cowboys as they took a 38-34 lead into the half.

OSU scored the first six points of the second half to push their lead up to 42-34. Smith and Scotty Hopson led a Tennessee run that would tie the game at 46-46 with 13:50 left to play in the game.

The Cowboys seized the momentum taking a 60-54 lead on a pair of baskets by Marshall Moses at the 8:00 minute mark. Tennessee would again fight back as they started pounding the glass and taking the ball to the basket. Smith and Josh Tabb would go 6 for 6 as the Vols retook the lead 64-62.

With 2:27 left on the clock OSU led 72-69 but a three-pointer by Tatum would tie the game at 72-72.

From there it was time for OSU’s Byron Eaton, a former McDonald’s All-American to take over. With under 1:00 minute to Head Coach Travis Ford put the ball in the hands of his playmaker and the senior delivered scoring all of the Cowboys remaining points, including the game winning three-point play that ended Tennessee’s season.

The Final Score

Oklahoma State 77 – Tennessee 75

Box Score

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