Oklahoma State Wins, but Sutton Concerned

Sometimes Joey Graham just “disappears,” Oklahoma State Coach Eddie Sutton says.

It was a good thing for the Cowboys nobody could miss Ivan McFarlin on Sunday.

McFarlin’s ferocious 31 points, six rebounds, two assists, and three steals carried the Cowboys from behind against a tough Southern Illinois team, 85-77, in front of 18,567 orange-clad fans in the Ford Center.

Oklahoma State (26-6) will play Arizona on Thursday in a Chicago Regional semifinal as the Cowboys continue their attempt to return to the Final Four for the second consecutive year.

“We can’t win a game against Arizona or Illinois if we don’t get him to play,” Sutton said. “I don’t know what’s wrong with Joey.”

Graham, a first-team all-Big 12 forward, had eight points, three rebounds and four turnovers and was saddled with four fouls. In the first round against Southeastern Louisiana, he had seven points, two rebounds and four turnovers.

“I hope we can get in his head,” Sutton said. “We’ve been doing lots of counseling. Maybe we’re talking to him too much.”

McFarlin, on the other hand, averaged 12 points during the season but is averaging almost 25 after two tournament games.

“You can’t say too much about Ivan,” point guard John Lucas said. “He comes out every night and gives it all he’s got. I don’t know how he’s able to stay up and joke around with us on the bus rides, the way he plays.”

Southern Illinois (27-8) led by seven points at halftime, but Oklahoma State freshman JamesOn Curry, who scored 16 of his 18 points in the second half, helped spur the comeback with two three-point baskets in the first two minutes.

Oklahoma State scored the first 12 points of the second half for a 51-46 lead.

Southern Illinois didn’t go away easily.

The quickness and defense of a team led by Jamaal Tatum’s 22 points and Darren Brooks’ 17 kept the Salukis close.

“They could play in our league,” Sutton said. “They might not win it, but they could certainly play in the Big 12.”

Oklahoma State took the lead for good with a little more than 14 minutes left and led by 10 with six to play, but Southern Illinois still got as close as four with 2:06 left on a three-point basket by Tatum.

Another three from Curry made the lead seven again, with 1:26 left.

Playing the first two rounds so close to home was supposed to be easy for Oklahoma State. Instead, they had to play hard to advance against two solid first- round teams.