South Padre Island, Texas ? Mario Boggan scored 23 points to lead Oklahoma State past Auburn 66-65 Friday in the South Padre Island Invitational.
The Cowboys (6-0) advanced to the championship game against Missouri State, a surprise 66-64 winner over No. 7 Wisconsin.
Auburn (4-1) had a chance to send it to overtime in the final 20 seconds, missing three three-pointers before Korvotney Barber put back the third try from underneath the basket with 0.38 seconds left to make it 66-65. Oklahoma State then inbounded the ball and time expired.
The Cowboys shot 52 percent in the first 20 minutes en route to a 36-28 lead at halftime.
The Tigers battled back in the second half, taking a 44-42 lead on a jumper by Lucas Hargrove with 14:51 left. But Oklahoma State’s Obi Muonelo hit a 3-pointer 19 seconds later to give the Cowboys the lead for good, 45-44.
Boggan was 11-of-13 from the field for OSU, and JamesOn Curry and Muonelo scored 11 and 10 points, respectively.
Quantez Robertson led Auburn with 18 points. Barber scored 17, Frank Tolbert had 13, and Rasheem Barrett added 10 for the Tigers.