record with a 3.69 earned-run average in 19 relief appearances last season.

STILLWATER, Okla. -- Phil Forte scored 31 points and Jawun Evans contributed 23 points, eight assists and five rebounds to lead Oklahoma State to a 102-90 victory over Central Arkansas on Monday.Jeffrey Carroll provided a spark off the bench once again for Oklahoma State (2-0), scoring 20 points and grabbing a game-high 11 rebounds.Forte, a sixth-year senior, fell one point shy of his career high. He finished fourth in the Big 12 in scoring in 2014-15 before he missed all but the first three games of last year with an elbow injury.I thought Phil was incredible tonight, at both ends of the court, said first-year Oklahoma State coach Brad Underwood, who earned his second victory. He was the one guy I thought was very dialed in.Jordan Howard scored 28 points for Central Arkansas (0-2), while Mathieu Kamba contributed 19 points -- 14 in the second half -- and 10 rebounds.The game was much closer than the score would indicate, despite the fact that Central Arkansas never led at all. When Howard sank a 3 with 11:57 remaining to cap a 12-4 run, the Bears trailed just 63-62, but Oklahoma State responded with 11 consecutive points over the next 2:47 to finally put the game out of reach. Central Arkansas never got closer than nine points the rest of the way.Im really proud of the guys and Im proud of the effort they put forth, said Central Arkansas coach Russ Pennell. We competed at a high level and thats one of the things Ive been wanting our guys to do. We bothered them with our pressure and when we got behind, we fought back.BIG PICTURECentral Arkansas: Howard continues to prove he can perform at a high level. After scoring 12 points and eight rebounds Friday night in a 79-47 loss to No. 9 Wisconsin, he put forth another impressive outing. Howard shot 7-for-13 from the floor, went 10 of 11 from the free throw line and matched a career-high with three steals.Oklahoma State: The Cowboys under Underwood still have plenty of work left to do. This game was a lot closer than it should have been, as Oklahoma State turned the ball over 17 times, leading to 26 Central Arkansas points. The Cowboys also committed 30 fouls, putting Central Arkansas on the foul line 39 times (of which the Bears converted 28 for 71.8 percent). Starting forward Mitchell Solomon and freshman reserve Cameron McGriff both fouled out by the time there was 7:51 remaining, and two more players finished the game with four fouls.I think lack of communication is a big part of it, Underwood said of all the fouls. We dont understand that fouling is a defensive mistake. Weve obviously got to eliminate that problem.TIP-INSOklahoma State heaved up a lot of 3-point attempts, shooting 10 of 29 from beyond the arc. Forte led the way, going 4-for-10. . For the second straight game, Oklahoma State enjoyed the edge in bench production, outscoring Central Arkansas 36-26 off the bench, after holding a 45-30 advantage over Campbell in its opener. . Oklahoma State recorded 20 assists on 34 baskets after totaling just 10 in the opener.HE SAID ITTheres not enough adjectives to describe Phil, in my book, Underwood said of Forte. His value to our team will outlast his days in uniform here. Hes one of the hardest-working guys Ive ever been around. Hes becoming a very vocal leader, hes everything that a college student-athlete is about. He means the world to me, he means the world to this program and he means the world to our locker room. His play is speaking for itself right now.UP NEXTCentral Arkansas will next travel to West Point, N.Y., to take on Chattanooga, which has started out 1-1, as part of the first round of the Maui Jim Maui Invitational tournament on Saturday.Oklahoma State remains at home to take on New Orleans on Saturday. The Privateers opened its season with a 103-67 win over Division III La Grange on Friday.---This version corrects to show Jawun Evans had eight assists instead of eight steals. Discount Air Max 90 .C. at the helm of the top team in the Eastern Conference. His tenure as the GM in Vancouver was all too brief. Though he led the Canucks to what was then a franchise record-shattering campaign in just his second season, Nonis was gone and replaced one year later. Air Max 90 From China . -- Catcher Brett Hayes has agreed to a $630,000, one-year contract with the Kansas City Royals, avoiding salary arbitration. http://www.airmax90outletsale.com/ . Inter president Erick Thohir says in a club statement on Wednesday that Vidic is "one of the worlds best defenders and his qualities, international pedigree, and charisma will be an asset. Wholesale Air Max 90 Clearance . -- The Sacramento Kings are set to become the first major professional sports franchise to accept Bitcoin virtual currency for ticket and merchandise purchases. Nike Air Max 90 For Sale Cheap . Perez, 35, posted a 1-2 record with a 3.69 earned-run average in 19 relief appearances last season. His season ended Aug. 9 due to a torn ligament in his left elbow. Perez joins infielder Andy LaRoche and catcher Mike Nickeas with minor-league agreements for 2014 that include invitations to attend spring training. Stephen Dank, the sports scientist linked to doping with at Essendon and Cronulla, has sustained a minor head injury when shots were fired into his Melbourne home early Saturday.Dank was treated and released from hospital after local media said a bullet grazed the 52-year-olds nose.Royal Melbourne Hospital confirmed Dank was no longer a patient after he was admitted in a stable condition.Dank was given a life ban by the AFL last year forr his role in providing banned supplements to 34 current and past Essendon players at the Australian Rules club.ddddddddddddThe biochemist was also tied to the National Rugby League supplements scandal at the Cronulla Sharks that resulted in players being suspended.Dank has denied wrongdoing with either team. ' ' '