Cowboys Roll Over NOC-Enid 101-62

WARNER--- Connors State Cowboys behind Burke Putnam and four other teammates destroyed visiting Northern Oklahoma-Enid 101-62 Thursday night at Melvin Self Field on Alumni Reunion Night for the men's basketball program.

Putnam put on a shooting clinic in the opening 20 minutes, scoring 23 of his game high and career high 30 points. The sophomore's previous high was 23 points against Arkansas Baptist.

The Cowboys improved to 18-4 for the year and 7-2 in Oklahoma Collegiate Athletic Conference play.

"We played extremely well, again" said Cowboys head coach Bill Muse. "We have played the last three or four games extremely well.

"Putnam was on fire the first half. But it takes more than one guy. He had to have somebody passing the ball,  somebody setting the screens or dribbling the ball and handling the ball to him.

"It took a lot of guys for him to get into that position the first half. But he was exceptional the first half."

However, Putman wasn't alone in the scoring assault for the Cowboys. Jordan Graham knocked down 22 points followed by Tyrees Sidberry's 14, Callen Haydon's 13 and Terrance Jones added another 10 in the lopsided victory.

It was the ninth time that the Cowboys surpassed the 100-point mark this season.

Connors opened the game on a pair of free throws by Sidberry and from that point on it was all Connors. NOC-Enid never led in the game, trailing 47-25 at the half.

The Cowboys' largest lead of the game came with 2:47 remaining in the game, when Connors held a 44-point advantage 97-53.

Muse was very happy with his club's defensive play. The Cowboy mentor has said all season if they hold a team near the 60-point output, his club should finish in the victory column. They did just that against the Jets.

"Our team defense was excellent tonight," said Muse. "We did the same thing at their place, grabbing a 20-point lead in the first half (88-79 victory). The difference tonight was we didn't let them back in."

Connors returns to OCAC action on the road Monday against Northern Oklahoma-Tonkawa (15-8, 6-3). Tip-off is 730 p.m.

"The game at Tonkawa is going to be tough," said Muse. "We've had guys step-up all season.

(Daylon) Tanksley has come off the bench and played well and Graham has really come on during the season," said Muse.

The Cowboys remain one-game behind Northeastern A&M in the OCAC standings. The Norsemen defeated Eastern Oklahoma State Thursday night 94-81 and are 8-1 in the conference and 18-5 overall.

CONNORS STATE COLLEGE 101, NORTHEN OKLAHOMA-ENID 62

NO.C-Enid 25 37—62

Connors State 47 54—101

NOC-Enid (4-5, 8-13)—Harvey 19, Dotson 13, Hall 8, Kendrick 8, Lucky 7, Sanchez 5, Ostrandeer 2.

Connors State (18-4, 7-2)—Putnam 30, Graham 22, Sidberry 14, Haydon 13, T. Jones 10, I. Jones 8, Riggs 4.