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OU Moves to 4-0 with Win at Tulsa, 62-53

Nebraska Stuns Sooners in Lincoln, 59-58

January 07, 2006 | Men's Basketball

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) -- Joe McCray made Oklahoma's Terrell Everett pay for his mistake.
 
With the Sooners trying to protect a two-point lead in the late going Saturday, Everett succumbed to Nebraska's pressure defense and threw a pass right to the Cornhuskers' Wes Wilkinson in the Oklahoma end.
 
That set up McCray, who hit a 3-pointer from the wing with 5.2 seconds left to give Nebraska a 59-58 victory over the 12th-ranked Sooners.
 
Oklahoma coach Kelvin Sampson said he wanted the Sooners (9-3, 0-1 Big 12) to hold onto the ball and force Nebraska (11-3, 1-0) to foul. He called Everett's errant pass ''unfortunate.'' 
 
Statistics | Sooner Basketball Central
 
''It slipped,'' Everett said. ''I was pump-faking, and it came out of my hand.''
 
After McCray's winning shot, Everett drove nearly the length of the court and put up a running shot at the buzzer that bounced away, securing Nebraska's first win over Oklahoma since 1999.
 
Nebraska's student section spilled onto the floor to celebrate the Huskers' second straight win over a Top 25 opponent. They beat then-No. 4 Oklahoma State last February in Lincoln. Several students lifted McCray on their shoulders and bounced him up and down.
 
''With the crowd running out onto the court, I'm getting used to that,'' McCray said, hearkening to the win over OSU.
 
The winning shot was a rare highlight for McCray. He was on the Big 12's All-Freshman team last season, but he has battled a weight problem and missed some playing time for disciplinary reasons this season.
 
McCray, who was hitting 31.8 percent from 3-point range coming into the game, was 3-for-7 from long range against the Sooners before making his decisive shot.
 
''I knew it was good when it left my hand,'' he said.
 
Charles Richardson Jr. got a big assist on the play, handing the ball off to McCray and then setting a screen.
 
''Oklahoma defended well all day long,'' Nebraska coach Barry Collier said. ''We executed late in the game and were able to put up shots. Joe had a great screen set by Charles to get him open. It was definitely Joe's shot.''
 
The Huskers had some uneasy moments before the final buzzer. Everett had almost a clear path to the hoop on his final attempt. When he missed, Nebraska had its first win in 16 games in which it trailed at the half.
 
''When he shot it, I thought it was good,'' McCray said. ''When it rolled out, I was so happy.''
 
For Oklahoma, which had a four-game win streak end, it was a second straight flat performance. The Sooners won 50-47 at SMU on Tuesday - their lowest point total on the road since 1968 - then shot 42 percent in the second half against Nebraska. They failed to score a field goal in the last 3:38.
 
''I still think we have a good team,'' Sampson said. ''Nebraska is a better team than people think. I think their crowd energized them. They took advantage of the home court.''
 
Jason Dourisseau had 12 of his 17 points in the second half, when the Huskers overcame a 10-point deficit. Richardson had a career-high 15 points. McCray, who made 4-of-8 3s, finished with 12.
 
Kevin Bookout led Oklahoma with 14 points before fouling out with 2:42 left.
 
David Godbold added 13 points, Everett 11 points and Taj Gray eight points and 10 rebounds.
 
Nebraska trailed 56-50 after Longar Longar dunked for the Sooners. After two free throws by Godbold made it 58-53, Richardson hit a clutch 3-pointer with 23 seconds left after Dourisseau missed twice from close range.
 
Early on, Richardson hit a 3-pointer to pull Nebraska to 24-23, but the Sooners went on an 11-2 run over a five-minute stretch to take a 35-25 lead. Nebraska answered with a 12-2 spurt to tie it at 40. Dourisseau had seven of the 12 points, with a 3-pointer to start the run and a jumper from the top of the key to end it.

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