Oklahoma State guard Phil Forte III hyperextended his elbow diving for a loose ball in the first half and finished with six points in 14 minutes. The Patriots decision-making? That’s still a work in progress.
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Forte had 5 points in the run before Burton ended the half with a 3-point play.
Jaire Grayer had a career-high 23 points off five 3-pointers and Shevon Thompson had his second straight double-double with 20 points and 17 rebounds. Oklahoma State continued pushing after halftime, stretching the lead to 18 points. But he landed hard on the court in the first half and spent the rest of the game on the bench.
Okalahoma State’s Chris Oliver, left, lets out a scream after…
Otis Livingston’s long 3-point try at the buzzer went in and out to bring overtime.
But George Mason answered with a 25-10 rally to move in front 56-51 in the final minute.
Forte didn’t warm up with his teammates Friday and was on the bench in street clothes with his left arm in a sling. Thesenior guard, who struggled offensively last season as a junior-college transfer, isaveraging 13 points and 10 rebounds for the 2-0 Cowboys who open the Charleston(S.C.) Classic on Thursday with a quarterfinal matchup against Towson of theColonial Athletic Association. “But we’ve got other guys on scholarship who’ve got to step up”. Carroll, a redshirt sophomore, hit seven of nine shots, including three from behind the arc. That’s when Joe Burton hit a jumper and a straightaway 3-pointer to tie the game once more with 16.2 seconds to go. “I would think so”, Thompson said with a grin. In the first semifinal, George Mason upended previously unbeaten Ole Miss 68-62 to advance. They look to make it four in a row on Sunday night. It’s the second time in three contests they’ve had seven or fewer turnovers.
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The Cowboys will play George Mason on Friday for a spot in Sunday’s championship game. Overall, Oklahoma State has outrebounded its first two foes84-61 and has recorded 17 steals.
