STILLWATER, Okla. Reggie White Super Bowl Jersey . — Oh sure, Marcus Smart definitely noticed Kevin Durant sitting courtside in Gallagher-Iba Arena. And he put together quite a performance for one of the NBAs most gifted scorers. Smart scored a career-high 39 points and No. 7 Oklahoma State raced past No. 11 Memphis for a 101-80 win on Tuesday night in a one-sided matchup of top teams. Durant was one of many basketball fans across the country interested to see Smarts return to the national stage after he bypassed the NBA draft following the Cowboys early exit from last seasons NCAA tournament. Smart responded by scoring 26 points in the first half. He finished 11 of 21 from the floor and hit five 3-pointers while easily passing his previous career high of 28 points set last season against Oklahoma. „We saw Kevin Durant, and we just wanted to go out there and put on a show,“ Smart said. Nick King had 23 points for Memphis, and Shaq Goodwin finished with 13. The Tigers (1-1) shot 41.2 per cent (28 of 68), including a combined 2-of-20 performance from guards Michael Dixon Jr. and Geron Johnson. The Tigers had played just once before the trip to Stillwater, a 95-69 home win over Austin Peay. And they appeared to be ill prepared for their first hostile road environment. More specifically, they werent prepared for Smart — who added five steals, four rebounds, four assists and a pair of blocks in an outstanding all-around performance. „Oklahoma State was just the better team tonight,“ Dixon Jr. said. „Our apologies for not playing Memphis basketball; we just couldnt make shots.“ Markel Brown added 20 points and Brian Williams had 15 for Oklahoma State (4-0), which is averaging 102 points per game. Surprisingly, Smart didnt even enter the game as the leading scorer for the Cowboys. In fact, the sophomore was third on Oklahoma State — behind sixth-man Phil Forte and Brown — with an average of 13.7 points through the teams opening three blowout victories. Smart, however, played up to the competition in the Cowboys return to the national spotlight after last seasons crushing loss against Oregon in the NCAA tournament. „We just wanted to show everybody that we werent backing down, and thats what we did tonight,“ Smart said. In front of Durant, a host of NBA scouts and Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks, Smart scored 12 of the Cowboys first 14 points. His last basket during the opening stretch was a dunk on the break that put Oklahoma State ahead 14-7. The Tigers did their best to stay close, rallying to tie it at 16 after back-to-back baskets by King, but they had no answer for Smart in the first half. „Oklahoma State, they just kicked our butt,“ Memphis coach Josh Pastner said. „When (Smart) scores like that, he could be the best player in college basketball.“ With the Cowboys up 17-16, the 6-foot-4 guard went on a one-man scoring binge that worked the crowd into a frenzy. Smart scored the next 12 points for Oklahoma State — including three 3-pointers and a trio of free throws after he was fouled on a 3-point attempt — to put the Cowboys up 29-20. In all, he scored 24 of Oklahoma States first 29 points. „Thats just Marcus,“ Oklahoma State coach Travis Ford said. „Hes going to be ready when he needs to be ready. … I knew he was going to be ready to play, I knew that from the beginning. „I didnt know he was going to go out there and get 39. Thats not always what we need from him, but well take it.“ The Cowboys led 50-32 at halftime and stretched their lead to as many as 34 points in the second half — comfortably answering their first challenge of the season and reminding the country why Smart was a consensus preseason All-American. Smarts fifth 3-pointer lifted Oklahoma State to a 64-43 advantage, giving him a career-best 31 points. „I was just feeling it tonight,“ Smart said. „My teammates found me and gave me the ball at times when I needed it in order to get my shot off.“ ZaDarius Smith Super Bowl Jersey . After a 10-game skid, winning sure feels good. Atlantas third error in the last two innings allowed Jackie Bradley Jr. Jimmy Graham Super Bowl Jersey . Rockhold.“ Known as an aggressive striker, Belfort (23-10) instead paced himself as the engaged in the early going and showed restraint by not overcommitting against the larger Rockhold (10-2). But when the opportunity presented itself, Belfort delivered an incredible spinning heel kick that landed flush on Rockholds chin and sent him toppling to the floor.Got a question on rule clarification, comments on rule enforcements or some memorable NHL stories? Kerry wants to answer your emails at cmonref@tsn.ca. Kerry, Thanks to you and TSN for providing us NHL fans with this fabulous column! Now – I was hoping you could comment on the Chris Kreider net crash on Carey Price in Game 1. Initially, everyone (including Michel Therrien and Brandon Prust) labeled it as a hockey play with an unfortunate outcome. Days later, they began laying blame once Prices availability was lost. Now Im NOT asking whether the refs erred on the call. Im simply interested on your call or take on the incident. If you were still working in the NHL, how would you have called it? CMon Ref! (corny, but couldnt resist – LOL). Thanks,TerekWhistler, BC Terek: Injuries are an unfortunate byproduct of the job and a risk that every player willingly assumes. When an injury is sustained, its not only very disappointing for the player to deal with but when it involves a key player such as Carey Price, the loss can also devastating to the fortunes of a team. You dont replace a player like Price and his absence will surely test the mettle of his Montreal teammates left standing with their best player out of the lineup. The Hab continent has a huge obstacle to overcome in finding a way to beat this hungry and confident NY Rangers team tonight in Madison Square Garden. For that to happen, PK Subban and company will first have to penetrate a wall in the form of Hendrik Lundqvist a mere 178 feet from their goal crease guarded by littlee know Dustin Tokarski. Raven Greene Super Bowl Jersey. With the man they the King poised between the pipes the Rangers net probably looks more like 178 miles away. Michel Terrien and Brandon Prusts initial assessment of the play was correct in that it was a hockey play. There was no deliberation on the part of Chris Kreider to initiate contact with Price as the Rangers speedster went hard to the net to make a play and then lost his balance following a chop to his right ankle by Alexei Emelin. In the post-game press conference Coach Therrien said he thought the play was „accidental, honestly,“ and Kreider said he „just had too much momentum and couldnt really avoid him. It didnt feel too good for me either.“Terek, I would have ruled the play on the ice no differently than I did from my couch and deemed the contact by Chris Kreider on Carey Price as completely accidental. It would appear that I could count on agreement of this decision from referee Steve Kozari, Michel Terrien, Brandon Prust and Chris Kreider at the very least. It was a very unfortunate accident and injury sustained by Carey Price. Prices Montreal Canadien teammates will have dig deep tonight and stick with a game plan of speed and high tempo energy from the opening puck drop to take the Garden crowd out of the game and shift the momentum in their favor. Dustin Tokarski will have to give them a chance to win. It is then up to the Habs skaters grit, guts, determination and skill to find a way to penetrate King Hendriks Court 178 feet away. ‚ ‚ ‚
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