Lost in the Coaching Scrum, Phil Forte Capped off an Historic Career at OSU

On a Friday afternoon, between the jab of another first-round NCAA loss and the right cross of Underwood’s deptarture that came on Saturday, Oklahoma State’s basketball team was just trying to make sense of it all.

And their fifth-year senior was no exception.

“We just had a few lapses on defense,” said Phil Forte. “And when you play a team like Michigan, you can’t do that. And when you get into a scoring match, and you don’t score, obviously they’re going to make a little run.”

Forte, the prolific shooter who has been lighting up OSU fans’ hearts since his arrival in Stillwater, ended his career on a bit of a cold streak. He made just one of his four 3-point attempts against Michigan. Included was a particularly frustrating shot that defied the laws of physics as it spun around and around the rim before hopping out.

His Cowboys lost by 1.

But it wasn’t Forte’s shooting that sunk the Cowboys. It was Michigan’s.

The Wolverines’ record-worthy second half featured an 11-of-15 3-point display that looked more like one of Forte’s a.m. empty-gym self-administered shot clinics than an NCAA Tournament game.

Unfortunately, that exhibition ended the career of one OSU’s most lethal shooters ever.

[PFB]

When the 5-11, 180-pound freshman showed up in Stillwater back in 2012, he was billed as Keiton Page 2.0. The coaching staff even sold him on his place in the offense by using the “Pawnee Pistol” as an example. The fit made sense and his impact was immediate.

Forte averaged 10.2 points per game as a true freshman and provided the Cowboys a spark off the bench. As a sophomore, he won Big 12 Sixth-Man of the Year, while shooting an astronomical 44 percent from 3 and upped his average to 13.3 points per game.

As a junior, he scored a career high 15 points per game while maintaining a 38 percent 3-point average. After coming back from an elbow injury last season, Forte overcame some inconsistent shooting early to put together another very good year and cap his career as one of OSU’s best all-time scorers and shooters.

Let’s take a look at where he stacks up among the Cowboy greats.

First off, Phil now leads Oklahoma State in all time 3-pointers made (329), 3-pointers taken (832), and his career 39.5 percentage is good for 11th all-time.

Made 3-Pointers

1. 329 Phil Forte (2012-17)
2. 299 Keiton Page (2008-12)
3. 279 Randy Rutherford (1992-95)
4. 245 Obi Muonelo (2006-10)
5. 228 Adrian Peterson (1995-99)

Attempted 3-Pointer

1. 832 Phil Forte (2012-17)
2. 812 Keiton Page (2008-12)
3. 668 Randy Rutherford (1992-95)
4. 634 Obi Muonelo (2006-10)

Forte is sixth all-time in points scored at OSU. He’s ahead of some pretty stellar Cowboys.

All-Time OSU Points Scored

1. 2,379 Byron Houston (1988-92)
2. 2,367 Bryant Reeves (1991-95)
3. 1,866 Adrian Peterson (1995-99)
4. 1,839 Le’Bryan Nash (2011-15)
5. 1,811 James Anderson (2007-10)
6. 1,746 Phil Forte (2012-17)
7. 1,702 Desmond Mason (1996-00)
8. 1,669 Bob Kurland (1942-46)

Forte led all NCAA players for the 2016-17 with a 95.3 percent free-throw percentage, making his last 25 attempts from the stripe. He was automatic in his five years in college, finishing behind only John Lucas in career free-throw percentage at OSU.

Free-Throw Percentage

1. 89.5 John Lucas (2003-05) 162-181
2. 88.3 Phil Forte (2012-17) 393-445
3. 86.2 Mark Tucker (1977-79) 188-218
4. 85.9 Keiton Page (2008-12) 360-419
5. 84.9 Arlen Clark (1956-59) 437-515

Forte also ends his career one shy of tying Bryant Reeves and Byron Eaton for most games played at OSU.

Games Played

1. 136 Bryant Reeves (1991-95)
2. 136 Byron Eaton (2005-09)
3. 135 Phil Forte (2012-17)
4. 134 Keiton Page (2008-12)
5. 134 Markel Brown (2010-14)
6. 134 Terrel Harris (2005-09)

Forte’s Senior Night resulted in a Cowboy loss to No. 1-ranked Kansas, ending a three-year home win streak against the Jayhawks. Following his last game at Gallagher-Iba Arena, Forte was asked what he would miss most about his time in orange.

“Probably just the fans,” said Forte. “There’s so many great memories and so many great wins. I’ll miss taking the court with my teammates and hearing my name called when they announce the starting lineups. Every little thing and every little detail. Coming into the game, I was just trying to embrace every moment of it. I couldn’t have asked for a better five years.”