Oklahoma State basketball notebook: KU lives at foul line in overtime periods

Still, KU made a living at the line in the overtime periods, with nine of its 11 points in the extra frames coming on foul shots.

The only points that didn’t come from the charity stripe? Naadir Tharpe’s game-winning bucket in the lane with 18 seconds left in double overtime.

OSU, meanwhile made just three of its eight free throws in the overtime periods.

“Foul shooting probably was the difference in overtime,” OSU coach Travis Ford said. “It seemed like every time they turned around, they were on the foul line. And we didn’t make ours.”  

FRESHMAN PHENOMS STRUGGLE FROM FLOOR

Buildup for both OSU-KU showdowns has largely revolved around each squad’s super freshman, as Marcus Smart and Ben McLemore are two prime candidates for the Big 12 Player and Freshman of the Year Awards.

But both rookies had troubles finding their shot Wednesday night, combining to make just five of their 26 field goal attempts. 

Smart finished with 16 points — 11 of them coming from the foul line — and drilled the 3-pointer from the right wing in transition that ultimately sent the game to overtime. But he fouled out with 2:25 to play in the second extra period.

McLemore finished with seven points and six rebounds.

“We tried to have somebody within a foot of him at any time, as much as possible,” Ford said. “Try not to loose him. We lost him a lot last game, I thought. Not a lot, a few times.

“The one time we lost him tonight, he made a 3. (Staying on him) was an emphasis, definitely.”  

FORD: COWBOYS NEED TO REST MINDS, BODIES

Following back-to-back overtime games in a charged Gallagher-Iba Arena, OSU next travels to West Virginia for its longest road trip of the Big 12 season.

Ford admits the timing isn’t ideal, and the coming days will largely be about recovering physically and mentally.