Cowboys Hang on for 67-60 Win over Kansas State
STILLWATER – After a strong start the second half for Kansas State, Oklahoma State fights back and takes care of business against the Wildcats, 67-60. This marks the fourth-straight win against KSU for the Cowboys, the first time since they won five-straight during 2003-07 seasons.
With the win, the Cowboys move to 13-6 on the season and 6-6 in conference play.
Freshman Rondel Walker picked up his first career start in place of Isaac Likekele against Kansas State and had a great day. In the first four minutes of the game, he recorded five points and two impressive steals.
He’d finish the game with 10 points, six rebounds and three steals.
Things started to slow down for both sides as turnovers became an issue. They’d combine for 10 in the first 10 minutes. That would also include a five-plus minute field goal drought for the Pokes before Bryce Williams nailed a three to put the Pokes up seven, 17-10.
Walker would record his third steal of the half with just over six minutes remaining in the half, which would lead to one of the more impressive plays in GIA this season. On the ensuing fastbreak following the steal, Walker would find Cunningham for an and-one alley-oop that put the Pokes up 25-14.
While turnovers were still an issue for the remainder of the half, the Cowboys settled down nicely and jumped out to one of their largest leads of the season going into halftime, 16 points, as they led the Wildcats 35-19 at the break.
Out of the half, however, the Cowboys allowed K-State back into the game in the first four minutes of the second half with a 18-3 run and a four-plus minute scoring drought on the other end. That’s compared to just 19 points in the entire first half.
Cunningham was the Cowboy to break the scoreless skid, that led to an Avery Anderson steal and fastbreak layup on the other end, followed up by a steal by Ferron Flavors Jr back on the ensuing drive that led to a Kalib Boone dunk. And just like that, the Pokes went from a scoreless four-plus minute scoring drought to a 7-0 run of their own.
The Cowboys were up 13 points with just under five minutes left when Anderson fouled Nijel Pack on a three-point attempt, for a four-point play getting K-State back to just nine-points. However, Cunningham nailed a huge three from the top of the arch on the other end to go back up 12 points.
Cunningham, who didn’t attempt a field goal in the first half, had a solid second half as he finished with 15 points on 5-of-13 shooting from the field, with four rebounds, five assists and five turnovers.
Along with Cunningham and Walker, Bryce Williams also finished with double digits with 10 points.
The Cowboys shot 41% from the field, while holding KSU to 39%, but the more impressive stat came from the free throw line as they were a perfect 100% for the first time this season. Turnovers were still an issue as the Pokes finished with 17 turnovers, allowing 27 points on those turnovers.
Iowa State is next on the schedule for the Cowboys as they’ll play this coming Tuesday, Feb. 16 at 3 p.m. in GIA.