STILLWATER – It was a close game from start to finish, but the Oakland Golden Grizzlies found a way past Oklahoma State in the Friday night tilt, 56-55.
The Cowboys move to 1-1 on the season and will face Prairie View A&M this coming Sunday, Nov. 14. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT on ESPN+.
Appropriate to the way the night had gone, the game came down to the final minute. Oakland junior guard Jalen Moore sunk two free throws with :53 left in the game following a foul on Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe, with the shots put the Golden Grizzlies back on top, 54-53. Isaac Likekele was fouled on the ensuing drive down the court, allowing for an inbounds play under the basketball. The Pokes nearly turned the ball over, but Bryce Thompson tracked it down, drove the lane and made floater to put the Pokes on top, 55-54 with :33 left in the game.
On the ensuing drive down the court for Oakland, Moore hit a pump fake to create contact on Avery Anderson III, drawing him off his feet and fouling on a three-point shot. Moore missed the front end but hit the second and third shot. After a quick timeout, Likekele drove the ball down the court and into the paint, dishing it to Thompson in the corner, but the shot fell just short.
Likekele and Thompson both scored 12 points on the night, Likekele on 6-of-10 shooting with nine rebounds and five assists, and Thompson on 5-of-11 shooting.
Rondel Walker also scored double-digit points tonight, 11 on 4-of-9 shooting from the field, 2-for-3 from the FT line.
Anderson III fouled out with just two points on 1-of-6 shooting. While he didn’t foul out, Moussa Cisse also finished the game with just two points on 1-of-4 shooting.
Turnovers were a big issue for the Pokes tonight as they turned the ball over 18 times, leading to 15 points on the other end. 14 turnovers came in the first half. However, on the other side of things, the Cowboy defense forced 18 turnovers, but the Pokes were outrebounded 35-31.
Next up for the Pokes is a home game against Prairie View A&M this coming Sunday, Nov. 14, with tipoff scheduled for 2 p.m. on ESPN+.