Postgame Notes: Oklahoma State 72 - Oklahoma 56

–Oklahoma State - 72, Oklahoma - 56–

Jan. 18, 2023 | Stillwater, OK (Gallagher-Iba Arena) | Attendance: 10,789

Updated Records: Oklahoma State 10-8 overall, 2-4 Big 12 I Oklahoma 11-7 overall, 2-4 Big 12 

Oklahoma State Leaders: Points - Bryce Thompson - 19, Assists - Avery Anderson III - 5, Rebounds - Bryce Thompson - 9

Oklahoma Leaders: Points - Grant Sherfield - 15, Assists - Grant Sherfield - 4, Rebounds - Tanner Groves - 11

Game Flow

• Kalib Boone started the scoring in this season’s first edition of Bedlam, putting the Cowboys up 2-0.
• Both teams struggled out of the gate offensively as Oklahoma grabbed an early lead, 12-9, with 11:58 remaining in the first half.
• Four-straight made field goals from the Cowboys gave them an 18-15 lead heading into the under-eight media timeout. OSU’s defense already blocked three shots and has held OU to 33 percent shooting.
• A 9-0 run from the Sooners allowed them to open up the lead to 24-18 with 4:35 remaining.
• Moussa Cisse made his return after missing the previous three games for OSU, and immediately made his impact felt, forcing a travel in the post of his first defensive possession.
• Bryce Thompson’s fadeaway jumper in the final seconds of the first half kept the Cowboys within reach, going into the halftime break down 30-24. Kalib Boone led OSU with six points and three blocks, and Thompson added four points, five rebounds and three assists.
• Woody Newton knocked down a deep three on the Cowboys first possession of the second half to cut the lead in half.
• OSU opened the second half on a 12-3 run, engineered by Avery Anderson III’s five early second-half points to take a 36-33 lead.
• The Cowboys offense continued rolling, making five-straight and 10 of its first 15 shots from the field in the second half to open up a 50-43 lead. Avery Anderson III, Bryce Thompson and Kalib Boone combined for 20 points in the first eight minutes of the half.
• A cross-court lob from Avery Anderson III was flushed by Caleb Asberry to give the OSU a 57-48 lead with 9:27 left.
• A layup on one end and a block on the other by Kalib Boone forces a shot-clock violation on the Sooners as the Cowboys hold a 63-54 lead with just under four minutes left.
• The Cowboys kept the momentum going the entire second half with another 9-0 run to extend the lead to 68-54 with 1:41 remaining. Oklahoma’s scoring drought reached four minutes down the final stretch of the game.
• OSU’s defense locked down in the final five minutes of the game, holding OU to just two points in that time to take home the Bedlam victory, 72-56.

Game Notes 

• Head coach Mike Boynton went with Avery Anderson III, Bryce Thompson, John-Michael Wright, Kalib Boone and Woody Newton as the starting-five for the first time. Wednesday’s start is the first in a Cowboy uniform from Newton.
• Avery Anderson III reached the illustrious 1,000-point mark with 14 points on Wednesday, the 45th Cowboy to reach the milestone and the first OSU player to reach the mark since Isaac Likekele.
• Bryce Thompson showed up big for the Cowboys just when they needed it, scoring 19 points on a 3-for-3 night from downtown, with 15 coming in the second half alone, to lead OSU. Thompson played his best all-around game of the season, snagging a career-high nine rebounds and dishing out four assist.
• Kalib Boone continues to dominate the paint on both sides of the floor, scoring 15 points to up his average to 12.3 points per game in conference play. Boone also blocked five shots, upping his total in Big 12 play to 15.
• In his first-career start, Woody Newton made the most of the opportunity with a career-high 12 points and five rebounds.
• OSU has held 15 of its 18 opponents to 35 percent shooting or less from the three-point line, and 10 of 17 have shot less than 30 percent.
• The Cowboys effort on the offensive glass was a key factor in the win, as OSU outscored OU 11-0 in second-chance points.
• Oklahoma State improved to 7-2 on the season when making more three-pointers than its opponent.

Oklahoma State’s win…

• Improved the Cowboys to 104-141 in the Oklahoma series, which dates back to 1908.
• Improved the Cowboys to 55-79 in the series when the two in-state schools are facing each other as conference foes.
• Earned the Cowboys a split result or better for the fourth-straight year against Oklahoma.
• Pushed the Cowboys to 68-46 at home against the Sooners.
• Is OSU’s fifth win in the past six meetings between the two schools.
• Is Oklahoma State’s fourth-straight win in Stillwater over Oklahoma.
• Is the third-straight season OSU has won the opening meeting between the two schools.
• Improved OSU to 7-5 against Oklahoma under Mike Boynton.
• Pushed Oklahoma State to 7-2 at home this year.
• Snapped a three-game losing streak for the Cowboys.
• Made OSU 8-2 against in-state foes since the start of the 2019-20 season.

Team Streaks

• OSU has made at least one three-pointer in 745 consecutive games dating back to Jan. 13, 2001.
• The Cowboys have posted 10 or more assists in 25 of their past 30 games dating back to last season. 
• Dating back to last season, OSU has held 21 of its past 22 opponents under their season scoring average.
• Oklahoma State has used its size to dominate in the paint offensively, outscoring 12 of its 18 opponents in the paint.
• As a team, the Cowboys have reached at least three blocks in all 18 games this season. OSU leads the Big 12 with 5.6 blocked shots per game, which ranks 16th in the country.
• The Cowboys have made 10 or more free throws in 12 of the first 18 games this season after doing so in 18 of their 30 games last season. 
• OSU has forced 10 or more turnovers in 10-straight Big 12 games.
• Caleb Asberry has shown a strong ability to rebound as of late as he’s brought in five or more rebounds in four-straight games.