STILLWATER, Okla. Jeremy Roenick Jersey . -- LeBryan Nash insisted last weeks loss to Memphis wasnt on Oklahoma States mind when it took the court against South Carolina. Whatever the ninth-ranked Cowboys were focused on worked out just fine as they dominated the Game****s in a 79-52 victory on Friday night. Even with preseason All-America guard Marcus Smart playing a largely supporting role, Oklahoma State (8-1) used an early 25-2 run to take control and put the game out of reach -- easing any leftover disappointment from the loss to No. 16 Memphis last week. Nash finished with 16 points to lead all five Cowboys starters in double figures, and Oklahoma State forced 24 turnovers in holding South Carolina (2-3) to a season-low 52 points, just 15 in the first half. "I thought the first half, I dont know if youll see too much better defence being played in this building and hold a team like South Carolina to 15 points," Oklahoma State coach Travis Ford said. "... Our guys really came out and executed the scouting report and really locked in." The Cowboys lost 73-68 to the Tigers last week in the championship game of the Old Spice Classic. That game was the fourth within a week in Florida for the Cowboys, who played against Memphis with Smart -- who was limited to 12 points -- battling virus-like symptoms. Smart was back to his usual self on Friday night, scoring 11 of his 13 points in the first half as Oklahoma State built a 26-point lead and put the game well out of reach. The sophomore added five assists, four rebounds and two steals in a game in which the Cowboys gave him plenty of help. In addition to Nash and Smart, Oklahoma States other starters -- Markel Brown, Brian Williams and Michael Cobbins -- also finished in double figures. Brown had 11 points, while Williams and Cobbins added 10 each, with the Cowboys scoring 33 points off turnovers. "I feel like it was good for our team to bounce back after a loss and to respond," Cobbins said. "... Everybody responded in the right way." South Carolina hadnt played a game in nearly two weeks, with its last outing an 84-72 victory over Florida International on Nov. 24. Despite the time off, Game****s coach Frank Martin left little doubt that he thought the first-half domination was more about Oklahoma State making a point rather than any rust on South Carolinas part. "Theyre good, and they came out and did exactly what I thought they would do," Martin said. "... They came out and punched us, and our guys didnt handle that real well." The Game****s struggled mightily to score in the first half, trailing 39-15 at halftime after shooting 20 per cent (4 of 20) and committing 13 turnovers that led to 21 points by Oklahoma State. The Game****s finished 16 of 45 (35.6 per cent) from the field despite hitting 6 of 11 3-point attempts. "We had guys trying to do their own thing to get us back in the game, and we were just playing catch up the whole night, and that doesnt work when youre playing a good team," Martin said. Led by Smart, the Cowboys had no such problems -- using a 25-2 run to put the game out of reach in the opening minutes. Williams free throw made it 27-5, capping a run during which the Game****s went nearly 5 minutes without scoring. Smart finished the first-half scoring in style, driving the baseline for a left-handed dunk, but he was hardly the only one to get in on the fun for the Cowboys. Nash had a one-handed dunk after a spin move on the baseline, and Cobbins brought the Gallagher-Iba Arena crowd to its feet with a two-handed follow dunk -- the first of two the junior had in the game. All in all, the convincing win was the perfect welcome home for Oklahoma State following last weeks trip. "Happy with the win, happy with the way we came out and played, especially coming off a loss," Ford said. Niklas Hjalmarsson . Froch retained his WBA and IBF titles with a ninth-round stoppage against Groves in Manchester on Nov. 23. Groves launched an appeal, saying referee Howard Foster stopped the fight prematurely, and the IBF then ordered a rematch. Patrick Kane . Fortunately for the Ragin Cajuns, they had Corey Trim to make a game-changing play on defence. Trim returned an interception 82 yards for a touchdown, Hunter Stover hit a go-ahead 27-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, and Louisiana-Lafayette held off Tulane 24-21 on Saturday night for its third straight New Orleans Bowl victory.TORONTO - Pascal Pelletier scored the game-winner with 34 seconds remaining as the Utica Comets edged the Toronto Marlies 2-1 in American Hockey League action Sunday afternoon. Pelletier re-directed an Alex Biega shot past Drew MacIntyre for his 10th of the season. Jeremy Welsh opened the scoring in the first period for the Comets (20-23-7), who beat Toronto for the first time in three meetings this season. Brandon Kozun tied it for the Marlies (28-17-4) in the second. Joe Cannata made 25 saves for his sixth win of the season while MacIntyre stopped 26 shots in the loss. Utica opened the scoring at 18:06 of the first period as Welsh picked up his first of the season, on a power play, putting home the rebound off a Colin Stuart shot. Patrick Sharp Jersey. Toronto tied it 1-1, on a power play, at 6:54 of the second when Kozun tipped a T.J. Brennan shot past Cannata for his 14th of the campaign. The Marlies had two separate 5-on-3 power-play opportunities totaling nearly three minutes, but mustered just three shots and failed to score. Toronto finished the game 1 for 9 on the power play while Utica scored once on three chances with the man advantage. The Marlies continue their 10-game home stand Monday when the Texas Stars visit. Note: The Marlies recalled goaltender Christopher Gibson from the Orlando Solar Bears of the ECHL on Sunday. ' ' '
