Newcomers Shine in Oklahoma State Exhibition Game
STILLWATER, Okla.— Justin McBride and the Oklahoma State Cowboys set their standard for the basketball regular season on Wednesday night.
The Cowboys handled the Oklahoma Baptist University Bison in a Gallagher-Iba Arena exhibition game with an 82-41 win. With only two of the five returners getting playing time, a big role was left to fill.
Thanks to a few freshmen new to the team, coach Mike Boynton might not have to worry much about filling that role. Forward Justin McBride led the Cowboys in scoring with 19 points and had five rebounds with two assists.
McBride is a freshman out of Plano High School and brings height and athleticism to the team. Despite being the second-youngest player in the Big 12, McBride demonstrates confidence in his play style and talent when he shoots.
”The main thing is, just trying to find the inside game before you find the outside game,” McBride said. “...losing yourself in the game, finding little easy points to get, you know? Trying to cut to the basket and get rebounds. I mean, the main thing is to get rebounds... and I think that separated my game.”
Freshman forward Eric Dailey Jr. was perfect from the field tonight, scoring 14 points on 7 shots. Dailey comes from IMG Academy in Palmetto, Florida, and wasted no time showing off his talents.
Dailey will likely be a role player for the Cowboys this season. Despite being a younger player, Dailey is a consensus four-star recruit and owns three gold medals with Team USA junior national teams. Because he brings experience from playing on some bigger stages, Dailey plays maturely and will continue to develop that maturity during his time at Oklahoma State.
“Eric and Justin, in many regards, are like the guy we’ve been missing,” Boynton said. “A guy everybody in the league has had from a skill forward spot...that can post up, can make a three, can rebound and push, can be a defensive matchup challenge. We haven’t had that, not in a consistent manner, so those guys both bring a level of versatility at the four that we really haven’t had since we moved Cade [Cunningham] everywhere around the court.”
Dailey isn’t the only OSU Cowboy who owns a gold medal, though. Center Brandon Garrison is a freshman from Del City High School and was the 2023 McDonald’s All-American, an honor he shares with former OSU basketball star Cade Cunningham. Dailey and Garrison played together on the Team USA 18u squad in Mexico.
Garrison had a double-double against OBU with 11 points and a team-high 11 rebounds.
These three newcomers combined for 44 points and provided Boynton with clarity on what the 2023 season could look like for Oklahoma State. Although it is early in the season, Boynton and the Cowboys have plenty of young talent to develop and utilize to set them apart from the competition.
The first test for OSU comes on Monday against the Abilene Christian University Wildcats in the home opener of the regular season. Tipoff is at 8 p.m.