STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) For a time during the second half, Jeff Newberry was nearly a one-man show for Oklahoma State.
Newberry tied his career-high with 23 points, including 11 in a row during a three-minute span of the second half, to lead Oklahoma State to a 69-48 victory against TCU in the Big 12 Conference opener for both teams on Saturday.
Newberry, who also had a game-high eight rebounds, tallied 16 points in the second half to help Oklahoma State (9-4, 1-0) break open a two-point contest. With the Cowboys leading 45-33, the senior guard scored his team's next 11 points to provide Oklahoma State with a 56-36 cushion with 5:23 to play.
''My teammates were just finding me and giving me opportunities to score,'' said Newberry, who connected on 8 of 13 shots from the floor, including three of five 3-pointers. ''They were finding me in the corner and I was knocking down shots.''
Newberry's final points, a 3-pointer with 1:25 remaining, gave the Cowboys a 69-43 advantage - their largest of the game.
Before Newberry's big second-half flurry, Leyton Hammonds scored seven straight points for Oklahoma State to help the Cowboys stretch an eight-point lead to a 12-point advantage, 45-33, with 9:19 to go in the game.
''Everyone was getting open shots,'' said Hammonds, who had nine points in the second half in which Oklahoma State outscored TCU 43-24.
''When someone plays good, we all do good,'' he added.
Hammonds finished with 11 points, five rebounds and two of his team's eight blocked shots.
Jawun Evans added 13 points for the Cowboys, including six in the opening seven minutes of the second half as Oklahoma State moved in front 38-27. Teammate Jeffrey Carroll also ended up in double digits with 10 points.
''Oklahoma State is a great example of guys playing together as a team,'' TCU head coach Trent Johnson said. ''We have to learn from that.''
Oklahoma State led by as many as 10 in the first half but eight free throws by the Horned Frogs (8-5, 0-1) in the final three minutes keyed a 10-2 run that brought TCU within 26-24 at halftime.
Malique Trent and Chauncey Collins had 11 points apiece for TCU. More than half (28) of the Horned Frogs' point production came from its bench.
The Horned Frogs shot only 30 percent from the field for the game (15 for 50), including just 1 of 17 from 3-point range, going 0-13 in the second half.
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TIP-INS
TCU: The Horned Frogs are 42-52 all-time in conference openers and have dropped their last six.
Oklahoma State: The Cowboys now lead the series between the two teams 23-3, including wins in 12 of the last 13 meetings. OSU is 8-1 all-time in Stillwater against TCU. Cowboys are now 13-7 all-time in Big 12 openers and 10-1 when they open Big 12 play at home.
TOUGH DEFENSE
Oklahoma State has now held its last two opponents to fewer than 50 points. The Cowboys surrendered just 43 in a victory Tuesday against UMKC.
ON THE BLOCK
For the second consecutive game, Oklahoma State recorded eight blocked shots. The Cowboys have had at least one blocked shot in every game this season and ranked 39th nationally in the category with 5.3 per game.
UP NEXT
TCU: The Horned Frogs host West Virginia on Monday.
Oklahoma State: The Cowboys travel to meet Baylor on Tuesday.
