Oklahoma Sports

Oklahoma State Receives Another Donation for Athletics

2006-01-24T08:51:00.000-08:00

Stillwater, OK (PRWEB) January 24, 2006 -- Oklahoma State University announced yesterday that alumni Joe and Connie Mitchell of Glen Rose, Texas, have gifted $3 million toward OSU’s Academic Enhancement Center [AEC] and the “Next Level” stadium campaign for Cowboy football.

“This is a special gift that touches both academics and athletics,” said OSU System CEO and President David J. Schmidly. “Graduation and success beyond athletics is a top priority for our student-athletes and strengthening our AEC will help us reach that objective. Several of our colleges have student success centers that enhance the learning experience and the AEC is doing the same for our student athletes, allowing them to achieve at the highest level academically. We are extremely grateful to the Mitchells for stepping forward and investing at a significant level in the future of Oklahoma State.”

In recognition of the Mitchell’s generous commitment, the AEC will be renamed the Joe and Connie Mitchell Academic Enhancement Center.

“This is a far-reaching donation that will directly benefit our facility improvement needs as well as have a positive impact on scholarships, graduation rates and recruitment,” said Craig Clemons, Associate Vice President of Development, Athletics. “It will allow us to truly focus more resources and energies on educational development, which is critically important given the vast majority of student athletes will make a living after college in a field other than professional sports.”

The AEC provides the academic resources necessary for Oklahoma State student-athletes to succeed in the classroom, earn a degree and become successful professionals in whatever they pursue. The center contains study rooms, teaching labs and computer centers.

"This gift will have immediate benefits, but it will also strengthen the role academics plays in OSU athletics,” said Marilyn Middlebrook, Director of Academic Services for Student Athletes. “We are now able to devote significant attention to the testing and development of student-athletes, and provide more in-depth services, including services for students with learning challenges.”

Joe Mitchell earned his bachelor’s degree in architectural studies in 1974, and Connie earned her degree in business education in 1972. The couple was formerly involved in the telecommunication industry and currently operates 10XXX Ranch.

Celtics Defeat Hornets 91-78

2006-01-24T07:56:00.000-08:00

Ricky Davis scored 32 points Monday as the Boston Celtics defeated the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets, 91-78 in Boston Monday Night. The Celtics won for the third time in their last four games. Raef LaFrentz added 18 points, including 4-of-5 three-pointers, and Paul Pierce had 16 points and nine rebounds for Boston. David West had 21 points and six rebounds for the Hornets, who lost for the second time in three games.

Longhorns slam Cowboys on Big Monday

2006-01-24T07:49:00.000-08:00

Brad Buckman scored 19 points and Daniel Gibson added 18 as fourth-ranked Texas overwhelmed Oklahoma State, 80-46, in a Big 12 matchup at the Frank Erwin Center. Buckman shot 7-of-9 from the field and pulled down seven rebounds as the Longhorns (17-2, 5-0 Big 12) ran their win streak to nine games and remained unbeaten in conference play. LaMarcus Aldridge contributed 14 points in the triumph. Texas was lethal from beyond the three-point line, knocking down 12-of-23 attempts from long distance, while its defense held the Cowboys to just 34 percent shooting on the night. Gibson ended 5-of-10 from three-point range. The Cowboys (12-7, 2-3), whose loss matched the most lopsided in head coach Eddie Sutton's tenure, received 11 points and 10 rebounds from David Monds. Sutton's previous worst defeat at Oklahoma State also came to the Longhorns, a 92-58 whipping on January 4, 1997. (Sports Network)

Hornet Trade Center Magloire

2005-10-26T12:55:00.000-07:00

The New Orleans Hornets traded center Jamaal Magloire to the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday in exchange for forward Desmond Mason, an unconditional first-round pick in the 2006 draft and cash. Magloire, an All-Star two seasons ago, averaged 11.7 points and 7.4 rebounds in 23 games for the Hornets last season. The 6-foot-11 center missed 51 games last season with a broken right ring finger. He had expressed a desire to be traded to Toronto, his hometown.

"We think for us and for him, it's probably the best thing to do," Hornets coach Byron Scott said.

Magloire hugged Scott and his Hornets teammates at the end of practice, but left the Ford Center without commenting to reporters.

"In Jamaal Magloire, we were able to add a young, All-Star-caliber big man to our front court rotation," Bucks general manager Larry Harris said. "He can score facing up, as well as with his back to the basket and he's proven to be a good defender and rebounder during his young career.

Mason, a 6-foot-5 forward from Oklahoma State, averaged 17.2 points in 80 games for the Bucks last season. A first-round draft pick out of Oklahoma State in 2000, Mason will be returning to familiar territory with the Hornets, who will play 35 of their home games in Oklahoma City this season after being forced out of New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina. (More at ABC News) Good to see Des Mason back in OKC, this time playing professional ball.

Hornet Lose First Game in OKC

2005-10-24T02:02:00.000-07:00

laying their first game in a new home, the New Orleans Hornets had to work out some butterflies. By the time they settled down, it was too late to salvage a win.

Andre Miller had 19 points and 10 rebounds and keyed a late surge to help the Denver Nuggets beat New Orleans 97-93 Sunday night, spoiling the Hornets' debut in Oklahoma City.

"We wanted to impress the crowd so much. The city has done so much for us and welcomed us right in, and we just wanted to give them a good show and show them that we're going to play for them," New Orleans guard Chris Paul said. "I think guys just had a little bit of jitters."

The Hornets, who rallied from a 26-point deficit in the first half, had a chance to tie after getting the ball out of bounds with 7.8 seconds left, but DerMarr Johnson blocked J.R. Smith's 3-pointer from the left wing and Greg Buckner made a free throw to secure the win.

"I think I hesitated too much instead of just shooting the ball," Smith said. "Usually I'm a catch-and-shoot kind of guy, and I think he froze me a little bit as opposed to me freezing him."

The Hornets, playing for the first time in Oklahoma City's Ford Center, pulled within 87-85 on David West's right-handed layup in the lane before Nene hit two free throws and Miller made a layup to start a 7-0 run by the Nuggets. Miller also hit a free throw and made a steal during the spurt. (More at Washington Post)

Oklahoma Sooners End Baylors Late Rally in Double OT

2005-10-23T01:02:00.000-07:00

Rhett Bomar threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Juaquin Iglesias in the second overtime to lift Oklahoma to a 37-30 win Saturday night against Baylor and maintain the Sooners' perfect record in the series.The Bears' hopes for their first win against Oklahoma ended when Shawn Bell's fourth-down pass fell incomplete. The Sooners rushed out onto the field in jubilation, and Baylor players walked to the locker room with their helmets in their hands. The win moved the Sooners (4-3, 3-1 Big 12) above .500 for the first time this season and continued an undefeated streak against Baylor, which has lost all 15 games against Oklahoma in a series dating back to 1901. (Yahoo!) Fore more Oklahoma Sooner Football checkout Oklahoma Sooner News/Blog

Oklahoma City/New Orleans Hornet GM steps down

2005-10-02T08:53:00.000-07:00

The New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets announced today that Allan Bristow has stepped down as general manager due to health concerns. Director of Player Personnel Jeff Bower has been promoted to general manager.

"The stress and strain of the last month took a serious toll on various health problems that I was already facing before the hurricane," said Bristow. "After consulting with my physician, it became clear that stepping down was the only decision that made sense for me and my family."

Bower, who is entering his 11th season with the Hornets, will return to the role of general manager effective immediately. He previously served as general manager from 2001-2003.

"We expect to do great things this season both on and off the court," said Bower. "I'm proud that I will be a part of both the excitement that is being generated in Oklahoma City and the rebuilding effort that we will help to see through in Louisiana."

Bower's versatility has been a valuable asset to the Hornets basketball staff during his 10 seasons with the club. He joined the team in 1995 as an advance scout and was named director of advance scouting prior to the 1997-98 season. Bower also served as an assistant coach during the 1998-99 season following the resignation of Dave Cowens. He was named general manager in the summer of 2001 after spending the 2000-01 season as the team' s assistant general manager and remained in that role until the summer of 2003 when he once again moved to the bench as an assistant coach. Bower returned to the front office in the summer of 2004 when he was named director of player personnel. (NBA.com)

Sooners beat Wildcats without Peterson

2005-10-02T01:40:00.000-07:00

Even without Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma was able to run over Kansas State. The Sooners can only hope he'll be back in time to face Texas.

Peterson rushed for 51 yards and a touchdown before leaving with an ankle injury in the second quarter, putting a damper on Oklahoma's best offensive performance of the season and 43-21 victory over the Wildcats on Saturday night.

Kejuan Jones added two touchdown runs in relief of Peterson, and Rhett Bomar ran for one score and passed for another as Oklahoma (2-2, 1-0 Big 12 Conference) won its Big 12 opener for the sixth straight year.

"We never try to rely on one guy to win a ball game for us," Jones said. "As running backs, we know anytime [Peterson] goes down, we've got to step our game up."

Peterson, the Heisman runner-up last year, left the game late in the second quarter and sat on a table on the sidelines as trainers worked on his right foot. He tried to stand once, but took a seat again as trainers continued to examine him. At halftime, he walked off the field on his own, but was limping noticeably.

He returned to the sidelines in the second half, but did not play.

"He should be OK," Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said. "He could have played in the second half if we chose to. He had somewhat of an ankle injury. ... He had one a little earlier in the year and was able to play with it, and this is similar." (ESPN.com)

Explosion outside University of Oklahoma's Memorial Stadium kills one

2005-10-01T20:17:00.000-07:00

An explosion near the University of Oklahoma's Memorial Stadium killed one person Saturday night, officials said.

Sgt. Gary Robinson of the OU Police Department confirmed there had been one fatality after an explosion that occurred about 7:20 p.m. during the second quarter of the OU-Kansas State football game.

The identity of the person who was found dead outside the botany-microbiology building was not immediately available.

Law enforcement officers cordoned off an area west of the stadium and were using bomb-sniffing dogs and a robot to search the area. (Tulsa World)

Colorado Thrashes Oklahoma State

2005-10-01T16:23:00.000-07:00

Hugh Charles rushed for 132 yards and two touchdowns and Colorado shut down Oklahoma State's struggling offense Saturday for a 34-0 victory.

Charles was trouble to the Cowboys (3-1, 0-1 Big 12) from the start, breaking free on the first possession of the game and streaking 74 yards down the middle of the field for a touchdown. His 15-yard touchdown run in the third quarter gave the Buffaloes (3-1, 1-0) a 16-0 lead.

The Buffaloes (3-1, 1-0) outgained Oklahoma State 381 to 208 yards.

The Cowboys, with redshirt freshman Bobby Reid making his second start at quarterback, failed to move the ball on short pass attempts and found its running game stymied.

Nothing punctuated Oklahoma State's offensive struggles more than when Marcus Burton intercepted Reid on Colorado's 1-yard line and returned the ball 99 yards for a touchdown with 24 seconds remaining in the game.

Oklahoma State's defense gave the Cowboys hope early on, holding quarterback Joel Klatt to 151 passing yards, his lowest passing total of the season. (Dallas Morning News) First shut out since 1991, lose to Texas Tech 58-0.