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Gonzaga surges past Oklahoma State

Nov 28, 2008 - 7:32 AM LAKE BUENA VISTA, Florida (Ticker) -- Micah Downs scored 17 points off the bench to lead five players in double figures as 10th-ranked Gonzaga downed Oklahoma State, 83-71, in the first round of the Old Spice Classic on Thursday.

Downs made 5-of-12 shots from the field, including a pair of 3-pointers, and added 13 rebounds, logging his first double-double of the season for Gonzaga (3-0), which will next face Maryland after the Terrapins upset No. 6 Michigan State earlier.

Jeremy Pargo scored 15 points for the Bulldogs and Matt Bouldin contributed 12 and eight rebounds during the seesaw game that was tied at 60-60 in the second half before Gonzaga went on a 13-5 run to take control.

After Terrel Harris, who paced the Cowboys with 17 points, drained a three to give Oklahoma State a two-point lead with 8:57 left to play, Pargo scored four straight points to briefly put his team on top.

Obi Muonelo nailed a 3-pointer of his own to give his team a 63-62 advantage. But, Gonzaga scored the next nine points, forcing Oklahoma State to call a timeout. Pargo capped the run with a layup to give the Bulldogs a 71-63 advantage with 4:26 remaining.

Muonelo hit a jumper out of the timeout to cut the deficit to six points, but Bouldin responded with a jumper on the other end to restore the eight-point edge and the Cowboys never got any closer.

"We had a shot, we just didn't execute," Oklahoma State coach Travis Ford said. "We played hard, we're just not real deep."

The junior guard, Muonelo finished with 16 points and 15 rebounds off the bench. Reserve James Anderson scored 14 points and was the only other player in double-figures for Oklahoma State (4-1), which will next take on Michigan State.