STILLWATER – In an exciting finish, Oklahoma State hangs on in overtime to beat Cleveland State, 98-93. With the win, the Cowboys move to 7-3 on the season.
With less than seven minutes left in regulation, Bryce Williams hit his fifth three of the night, followed by two free throws to put the Pokes up by five, 75-70. On the ensuing drive, Williams misses a three, but steals the ball on the rebound for an easy, wide-open layup to put the Pokes up by seven, 77-70.
A few plays and OSU turnovers later, the Vikings nailed a three to tie the game up at 79 with less than two minutes left in the game.
With :45 left in regulation, and up two, Bryce Williams was fouled and sent to the line to shoot two, where he hit the front end of two, putting the Pokes up by three, 82-79.
After a quick CSU bucket, Bryce Williams had the ball stolen away, which lead to a fastbreak dunk by Finstuen, putting the Vikings up 83-82. Bryce Williams missed a three on the other end, which was followed by a foul on Keylan Boone sending CSU to the free throw line to shoot two. Finstuen missed the first free throw but made the second.
On the ensuing drive, Avery Anderson III made a fast break layup with :1.6 left on the clock to tie the game at 84.
The Vikings had a last-second shot, but it fell short, sending the game into overtime tied up, 84-84.
Overtime was just like the first 40 minutes of the game, incredibly close. Anderson III hit the first two overtime buckets for the Pokes, but CSU had an answer each time at the other end.
Bryce Williams put the Pokes up by four with just over a minute left in overtime, before Finstuen of CSU nailed a three getting the Vikings back within one point, 94-93.
With just over :20 left in overtime, Keylan Boone recorded a huge block, with Bryce Williams getting fouled on the rebound. He hit the front end of two, putting the Pokes back up three, 96-93.
D’Moi Hodge heaved up a desperation three from near mid-court, but it fell short. Anderson III was fouled on the rebound, where he hit two free throws to put the game out of reach.
Bryce Williams and Avery Anderson III were on fire tonight as they combined for 58 points, each scoring 29 points, which is a new career high for Williams. Williams finished the game shooting 10-of-19 from the floor and 5-of-10 from 3-point range.
The Cowboys combined for 18 turnovers, while force 17 on the other end. They were also outrebounded by the Vikings by a tally of 39-36.
The first and second halves were just as exciting and intense as the overtime period as the Cowboys entered into the second half with a one-point lead, 46-45.
The Cowboys will have a tough one next time out as they’ll face one of the hottest teams in the country, Houston on the road in Fort Worth, TX for the Hoop Hype XL College Basketball Showcase. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT on ESPNU.
