Postgame Notes: Oklahoma State 46 -- Texas 56

Oklahoma State Postgame Notes vs. No. 6/6 Texas

Oklahoma State - 46, Texas - 56

Jan. 7, 2022 | Stillwater, OK (Gallagher-Iba Arena) 

Updated Records: Oklahoma State 9-6 overall, 1-2 Big 12 I Texas 13-2 overall, 2-1 Big 12 

Oklahoma State Leaders: Points - Kalib Boone - 16, Assists - Caleb Asberry - 3, Rebounds - Kalib Boone - 10

Texas Leaders: Points - Marcus Carr - 12, Assists - Marcus Carr, Rebounds - Dillon Mitchell - 12

Game Flow

• Bryce Thompson kicked off the scoring for the Cowboys with his 30th three-pointer of the season, putting the Pokes up 3-2 early.
• Buckets from Kalib Boone and Avery Anderson III kept the Cowboys going offensively as they went into the first media timeout down, 9-7.
• An and-1 three from John-Michael Wright kept the Cowboys within striking distance, heading into the under-eight media timeout down, 22-17. The Cowboys shot 44 percent from the field and 50 percent from deep in the first 12 minutes of the first half.
• Eight points from Kalib Boone led the Cowboys, but Texas continued to keep OSU at distance, leading 32-24 with 3:20 left in the first half.
• Both teams struggled offensively over the final three minutes, as Texas took the 32-24 lead into the halftime break.
• OSU cut into the Texas lead in the first four minutes of the second half after a big three-pointer from John-Michael Wright, making it a 35-29 deficit.
• The Cowboys continued to fight without Cisse, as Kalib Boone stepped up in his absence, leading the Cowboys in points, rebounds and blocks to this point. The Cowboys trailed by just two points, 40-38, with 11 minutes remaining.
• A deep three by Caleb Asberry gave the Cowboys their first lead since the 17 minute-mark in the first half at 44-43 with 8:20 left to play.
• Texas fought back and extended the lead to 53-46 with 1:49 left.
• The Cowboys finished the game with 12 blocks, but fell 56-46 to the No. 6 ranked Longhorns.

Game Notes 

• Head coach Mike Boynton went with Avery Anderson III, Bryce Thompson, John-Michael Wright, Kalib Boone and Tyreek Smith as the starting-five. Moussa Cisse missed his first game of the season after suffering an injury in the Cowboys’ previous game.
• Kalib Boone had his best game of the season, recording a double-double with 16 points and ten rebounds.
• The Cowboy defense made its impact in the first 20 minutes, recording a season-high seven blocks in a half.
• Led by a career-high six blocks by Kalib Boone, the Cowboys recorded a season-high 12 blocks, the most since Nov. 21, 2021 when the Cowboys blocked 16 shots against College of Charleston.
• Tyreek Smith tied his own career-high in blocks as well, swatting three shots away.
• Texas came in averaging 84 points per game, but the Cowboys defense held them to a season-low 56 points, 14 fewer than its previous low of 70 against OU.
• OSU has held 13 of its 15 opponents to 35 percent shooting or less from the three-point line, and ten of 15 have shot less than 30 percent.
• Avery Anderson III is close to reaching the illustrious 1,000 career-point mark, needing just 17 more points after putting up five against the Longhorns.
• Chris Harris Jr. has now recorded at least one steal in six-straight games.

Team Streaks

• OSU has made at least one three-pointer in 742 consecutive games dating back to Jan. 13, 2001.
• Dating back to the Sam Houston game (14 halves of basketball), Oklahoma State has allowed teams to make more than nine field goals in a half just four times. The OSU defense has held teams to nine or less made field goals in six of its past eight halves. 
• The Cowboys have posted ten or more assists in 22 of their past 27 games dating back to last season. 
• Dating back to last season, OSU has held 18 of its past 19 opponents under their season scoring average.
• Oklahoma State has used its size to dominate in the paint offensively, outscoring 11 of its 15 opponents in the paint.
• As a team, the Cowboys have reached at least three blocks in all 15 games this season. OSU leads the Big 12 with 5.5 blocked shots per game.
• Avery Anderson III has made a name for himself with his hounding on-ball defense. The senior guard has recorded at least two steals in 10 of the Cowboys first 15 games.
• The Cowboys have made 10 or more free throws in 11 of the first 15 games this season after doing so in 18 of their 30 games last season.