Cowboys Survive Overtime in Tulsa to Beat ORU, 78-77
After a slow start to the first half, Oklahoma State fights back and survives an overtime period to beat ORU, 78-77. With the win, the Cowboys move to 6-1 on the season and will face Wichita State in Stillwater on Dec. 1.
The Cowboys’ first trip to the Mabee Center since 1997 went to overtime as ORU tied the game with just over :30 seconds left in the game. ORU would take a one-point lead with 2:17 remaining, 75-74, before Bryce Williams hit a floater just under two minutes, 76-75. He’d hit another bucket on the next trip back down the court, putting the Pokes up three with 1:07 remaining, 78-75.
After an ORU bucket and OSU miss, Trey Phipps had a wide-open three to win the game, but left it well short as time expired.
It was a rough night from 3-point range for the Pokes as they went just 2-for-16 from beyond the arc. They did, however, shoot 42% from the floor and outrebounded the Golden Eagles, 51-37, 34 of which came on the defensive end.
Bryce Williams led the Pokes in scoring as he finished with 21 points, a new career-high, on 7-of-12 shooting from the floor. Isaac Likekele was just one rebound shy of recording his first double-double of the season as he finished with 13 points and nine rebounds with three assists.
The boys from Tulsa had decent days as Kalib Boone finished with 11 points, Bryce Thompson with eight and Keylan Boone with five.
The Cowboys started off slow as they missed their first 10 shots before Avery Anderson III hit a jumper at the 16:24 mark to tie it up 2-2. It was a huge first half for ORU’s Max Abmas as he scored 17 points, 12 of which came on three-point shots. The Golden Eagles jumped out to an 11-2 lead before Kalib Boone hit a hook shot to give the Pokes their second bucket of the game at the 14:13 mark. The Golden Eagles continued to lead more of the first half, but a three-pointer from Isaac Likekele tied the game at 28-apeice with 2:19, which was the start of a 9-3 run the Pokes to go into halftime with a 34-31 lead.
The Golden Eagles came out hot to start the second half as they hit a quick layup and three-pointer to go up 36-34. The Cowboys kept the start of the second half close as it was a two points game at the 15-minute mark, 42-40 ORU. However, similar to the first half, the Golden Eagles started to pull away and extended their lead up to nine, 57-48 with 11 minutes left in the game.
Tyreek Smith tied the game up at 62 at the six minutes mark, then Keylan Boone was fouled after an offensive rebound and layup attempt. He’d give the Pokes the lead back as he hit both free throws, 64-62 with 5:33 left in the game. A few plays later, Likekele hit a layup through contact to extend the Cowboy run up to 12-2 and a four-point lead, 66-62.
As he’s known for, Abmas hit a huge three-pointer with 2:43 left in the game, getting ORU back within three, 69-67. That bucket gave him a season-high in points with 24. He’d foul Bryce Williams on the next drive down the court, with Williams hitting both free throws, 71-67, followed quickly by another three-pointer from Abmas making it a one-point game with less than two minutes in the game.
ORU’s DeShang Weaver was fouled with :35 seconds left in the game, tying the game at 72, but missed the and-one opportunity.
As mentioned above, the Cowboys will be back out on December 1st against Wichita State. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT and will be streamed on ESPN+.