Postgame Notes: OSU 67 -- KU 69

–Oklahoma State Postgame Notes vs. No. 4/4 Kansas–

Oklahoma State - 67, Kansas - 69

Dec. 31, 2022 | Lawrence, Ka. (Allen Fieldhouse) 

Updated Records: Oklahoma State 8-5 overall, 0-1 Big 12 I Kansas 12-1 overall, 1-0 Big 12 

Oklahoma State Leaders: Points - Bryce Thompson - 23, Assists - John-Michael Wright - 3, Rebounds - Kalib Boone - 7

Kansas Leaders: Points - Jalen Wilson - 20, Assists - Dajuan Harris - 9, Rebounds - Gradey Dick - 9

Game Flow

• Bryce Thompson and John-Michael Wright each knocked down two early threes, as they both made their 21st three-point basket of the year to give OSU an early 8-4 lead heading into the first media timeout. 
• Thompson made back-to-back threes and Wright knocked down a floater to keep Oklahoma State ahead at the under-12 timeout, 13-10. 
• The Cowboys roared ahead with an impressive 8-3 run out of the timeout, as Thompson knocked down his third three of the game, forcing the Jayhawks into an early timeout with 9:14 left in the first half. 
• Stifling defense from the Cowboys, including Avery Anderson’s 28th and 29th steals on the year, held the Jayhawks scoreless for nearly four minutes, handing the Cowboys a 21-15 lead at the under-eight media timeout. 
• OSU, and Thompson, showed no signs of slowing down as he scored his 14th point of the half to put the Cowboys up 32-23 at the last media timeout of the half. 
• Out of the timeout, Wright responded to a KU free-throw with a 5-0 run on his own, forcing the Jayhawks into another timeout after the Cowboys jumped to a 13-point lead. 
• After trading baskets near the end of the half, Wright put an end to an emphatic first half, knocking down a buzzer-beater for his 14th point of the half to put OSU up 45-30 at the break. 
• Thompson picked up the second half just like he left the first, drilling his fifth three of the game as he shut down a potential Jayhawk run to keep OSU ahead by double digits at the first media timeout of the half. 
• Woody Newton put an end to a Kansas run as he snagged a putback layup that kept the Cowboys up by 2 with less than 12 minutes remaining. 
• Kansas grabbed only their second lead of the game with 10:56 left in the second half. 
• Wright responded with a clutch step back three-pointer, giving him a season-high 17 points to tie the game at 55-apiece at the under-eight media timeout. 
• Anderson’s first points of the game came at a clutch time, as he finished a nice layup to bring the Cowboys within one point with 2:07 remaining. 
• Thompson nailed his career-high sixth trey of the day to give OSU a two-point lead as KU called a timeout with 1:40 left in the game. 
• In a career-game for Thompson, he tied his career-high with 23 points as he nailed a clutch three to tie the game with seconds remaining. 
• The Jayhawks responded with a layup that left six seconds on the clock for OSU, and OSU couldn’t find another basket, falling in a tough game, 69-67.

Game Notes 

• Head coach Mike Boynton has stayed with the same starting-five in all 13 games this season, going with Avery Anderson III, Bryce Thompson, John-Michael Wright, Kalib Boone and Moussa Cisse. The 13 games is the longest the Cowboys have gone with the same starting-five since the 2018-19 season.
• With OSU’s 45-30 lead at halftime, it’s the first time this season Kansas trailed at home at the break. It’s also the first time since Jan. 29, 2022, when Kansas trailed by double-digits at home against the Kentucky Wildcats.
• The offense contributed 45 points in the first half, the fourth-most of any half this season for the Cowboys.
• OSU’s offense is steadily improving, scoring more than 30 points in 13 of its last 17 halves of basketball.
• OSU has held 11 of its 13 opponents to 35 percent shooting or less from the three-point line, and eight of 13 have shot less than 30 percent.
• OSU scored 22 points off Kansas turnovers, taking advantage of 12 Jayhawks turnovers.
• Avery Anderson III is close to reaching the illustrious 1,000 career-point mark, needing just 35 more points after putting up two against the Jayhawks.
• Bryce Thompson continues to shoot the three-ball well for the Cowboys, making 20 threes in the Cowboys’ last four games.
• Thompson’s 23 points tied a career-high, last time coming against Kansas State on Feb. 19, 2022. He led the Cowboys in scoring for the 14th time in his career, thanks to a season-high 23 points and the fifth time this season. Against his former team, his seven three-pointers are a career-high.
• John-Michael Wright’s 19 points are a season-high, making it his most productive day for him in an OSU jersey. Wright tacked on three assists and four rebounds.
• Moussa Cisse continues to use his size to grab boards and block shots at a furious rate. The Big 12’s leading rebounder and shot blocker recorded six rebounds and a pair of blocks on Saturday.
• Cisse now has 37 blocks on the season, seven more than the second and third ranked players in the Big 12.
• Avery Anderson III recorded two steals against the Jayhawks on Saturday. Anderson has upped his defensive prowess this season, averaging a career-high 2.2 steals per game, which ranks third in the Big 12.

Team Streaks

• OSU has made at least one three-pointer in 740 consecutive games dating back to Jan. 13, 2001.
• Dating back to the Sam Houston game (eight 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 three of its past four halves. 
• The Cowboys have posted ten or more assists in 22 of their past 25 games dating back to last season. 
• Dating back to last season, OSU has held 16 of its past 17 opponents under their season scoring average.
• Oklahoma State has used its size to dominate in the paint offensively, outscoring ten of its 13 opponents in the paint.
• Bryce Thompson has hit at least four three-pointers in five of the past eight games, asserting himself as a deep-ball threat.
• Moussa Cisse has now recorded at least one block in each of his past 23 games. There have been just three games in his Oklahoma State career in which he did not record at least one block.
• Cisse has reached at least two blocks in 14 of the past 17 games dating back to last season, tallying 48 total in those 17 games.
• Cisse has reached three blocks in eight of the Cowboys 12 games this season.
• As a team, the Cowboys have reached at least three blocks in all 13 games this season. OSU leads the Big 12 with 5.2 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 13 games, and 12 of 15 games dating back to last season.
• The Cowboys have made 10 or more free throws in nine of the first 13 games this season after doing so in 18 of their 30 games last season.