With a breakout performance by Juco transfer J.P. Batista (18 points), coupled with a solid game by Adam Morrison (19 points), Erroll Knight and Derek Raivio (11 assists), Gonzaga scored first, trailed briefly at 4-3 and 6-4 before surging ahead of the Oklahoma State Cowboys for good, never losing the lead again.
With a defense that limited Eddie Sutton's team to 40% shooting and an offense that produced a 57.4% effort, the Zags took a lead of 16 before withstanding a Cowboy rally to win a huge game 78-75 before almost 19,000 partison, hostile fans.
Lone senior Ronny Turiaf played on two sprained ankles and still managed good production in limited limits in the win.
Two days later Gonzaga's bus arrived in Columbia, Missouri.....
Bad ankles and all, Turiaf skies for two.
Adam Morrison's reaction says it all after win over OSU.
Eddie Sutton will have better days.