Article: First-half extra blitz carries Oklahoma State.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)

Byline: Troy Phillips

KANSAS CITY, Mo. _ To explain Oklahoma State's tempered reaction to making the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16, forward Ivan McFarlin was a master of the metaphor.

It's like those nicotine patches or gums that smokers use, he said.

Huh?

"It's exciting, but it's not the only goal you want," McFarlin explained. "It's that step-by-step process."

Thus continued Oklahoma State's smoke-free road to a possible Final Four spot, and this day's journey started and ended with defense. The second-seeded Cowboys head to the regional semifinals after a crisp 70-53 second-round victory over seventh-seeded Memphis (22-8) at ...

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