Postgame Notes: Oklahoma State 59 - North Texas 65

Oklahoma State - 59, North Texas - 65

March 21, 2023 | Stillwater, OK (Gallagher-Iba Arena) 

Updated Records: Oklahoma State 20-16 overall, 8-10 Big 12 I North Texas 29-7 overall, 16-4 Conference USA

Oklahoma State Leaders: Points - Caleb Asberry - 14, Assists - Bryce Thompson - 4, Rebounds - Tyreek Smith - 10

North Texas Leaders: Points - Tylor Perry - 23, Assists - Kai Huntsberry - 4, Rebounds - Mouyale Sissoko - 15

Game Flow

• Moussa Cisse scored the Cowboys’ first bucket of the night with a mid-range fadeaway jumper to take a 2-0 lead.
• Both teams struggled offensively, but a three from North Texas put the Mean Green ahead, 5-2.
• Kalib Boone came off the bench and scored four quick points for the Cowboys, but North Texas extended its lead to 14-6.
• Moussa Cisse’s six points powered the Cowboys offense through the first 16 minutes, but North Texas continued to control the game, leading 20-12 with 4:00 remaining.
• The Cowboys’ defense held the Mean Green to 9-for-26 shooting in the first half, but trail 24-17.
• OSU opened the second-half on a 12-5 run to tie it up at 29. Caleb Asberry scored five in the first five minutes.
• An 8-0 Cowboy run gave OSU a 37-34 lead with 13:57 remaining. Cisse is 6-for-6 from the field with 12 points to lead OSU.
• After North Texas snatched back a four-point lead, Asberry scored five straight for OSU to give it back the one-point lead, 7:20 left.
• North Texas continued to respond to each Cowboy run, going on a 5-0 run to take a 53-50 lead with 2:06 remaining.
• Woody Newton’s clutch three ties the ballgame at 55 with 1:00 left.
• The Cowboys couldn’t find a bucket on the last possession of regulation, sending OSU and UNT into overtime.
• North Texas outscored the Cowboys 10-4 in the overtime period, winning 65-59 and knocking OSU out of the NIT.

Game Notes

• Head coach Mike Boynton went with Caleb Asberry, Bryce Thompson, John-Michael Wright, Moussa Cisse and Tyreek Smith as the starting-five for the sixth-straight game.
• Moussa Cisse played one of his best games of the year on Tuesday, recording 13 points on 6-for-6 shooting, while also grabbing seven rebounds and one block.
• Tyreek Smith has reached double-digit rebounds in three-straight games and four of his last five games after grabbing 10 rebounds. Smith is now in second in Cowboy history for rebounds in the NIT, grabbing 32 in his three games, just one shy of Byron Houston’s school-record.
• Since being inserted into the starting lineup against Texas Tech on March 4th, Tyreek Smith has averaged 8.2 points and 9.6 rebounds.
• Caleb Asberry took over for the Cowboys in the second half, scoring 11 of his 14 points in the final 25 minutes, while grabbing eight rebounds and knocking down two threes. Asberry also led the Cowboys defense with three steals.
• Asberry has started the last 14 games for the Cowboys in the absence of Avery Anderson III. In those starts, Asberry is averaging 12.8 points on two made threes per game.
• All eight Cowboys who touched the floor scored at least four points.
• As a team, the Cowboys have reached at least two blocks in every game this season.
• Oklahoma State is 19-3 when they shoot the same percentage or better than their opponent from the field this season.
• The Cowboys have reached 30 team rebounds in 15 of its last 16 games. 

Team Streaks

• OSU has made at least one three-pointer in 763 consecutive games dating back to Jan. 13, 2001.
• The Cowboys have shot over 40 percent from the field in 14 of their last 19 games.
• The Pokes have posted 10 or more assists in 29 of their 36 games this season.
• Dating back to last season, OSU has held 35 of its past 40 opponents under their season scoring average.
• The Cowboys have made 10 or more free throws in 26 of 36 games this season after doing so in 18 of their 30 games last season. 
• OSU has reached double-digit offensive rebounds in six of its last nine games. The Cowboys' 22 against Baylor was their most in a game since 2011.
• Oklahoma State has reached double-digit second chance points in 26 of 36 games this season.
• Oklahoma State has recorded at least five steals in 26 of its 36 games this season.
• The Cowboys are 16-6 this season when out-rebounding their opponent. When getting out-rebounded, they are 3-8.
• As a team, the Cowboys have reached at least three blocks in 31 of 36 games this season. OSU leads the Big 12 with 4.9 blocked shots per game, which ranks 20th in the country.
• Caleb Asberry has made at least one three-point field goal in 16-straight games.