Oklahoma State vs. South Carolina State: Postgame Notes

Oklahoma State – 86, South Carolina State - 70
Dec. 31, 2023 | Stillwater, Okla. (Gallagher-Iba Arena)
Oklahoma State Leaders: Points – Bryce Thompson (17), Rebounds – Quion Williams, Brandon Garrison (10), Assists – Javon Small (5)
South Carolina State Leaders: Points – Jordan Simpson (16), Rebounds – Drayton Jones (7), Assists – Mitchell Taylor (4)

Game Notes:

• In a first half that featured four ties and 10 lead changes, Oklahoma State led at the halftime horn 38-34. The Cowboys outscored the Bulldogs 48-36 in the second half, posting a pair of 10-0 runs and a lead as large as 22.
• The Cowboys hit 13 triples on Sunday, marking its sixth double-digit output from three this season. Their total ties its 2022-23 output. 
• With efforts of 14, 15 and 13 made threes over its last three games, OSU has posted double-digit threes in three-straight games for its first time since Nov. 10-18, 2018, when they made 10 against Charlotte, UTSA and College of Charleston.
• Oklahoma State swarmed the Bulldogs to a paltry 25-of-70 (35.7%) outing. For OSU, it marks the lowest field goal percentage by an opponent this season.
• The Cowboys posted two 10-0 runs on Sunday, one from the 10:15 to 8:00 mark in the first half, and the second from the 14:58 to 13:09 in the second half. The pair marked its seventh and eighth unanswered double-digit runs of the season.
• Quion Williams logged a career-high 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting to pair with 10 rebounds – the third double-double of his career.
• Brandon Garrison etched an 11-point, 10-rebound double-double, his first of his young career.
• Bryce Thompson hit four-of-nine threes on Sunday. In his last three games, he is shooting 13-of-25 (52.0%) from distance.
• Javon Small, Bryce Thompson, Quion Williams, Eric Dailey Jr. and Brandon Garrison started for the Cowboys.

Game Flow:

• Both sides pitched valiant stretches in the first half, with a 13-2 OSU run and 9-0 SCSU run highlighting the opening 20 minutes.
• Oklahoma State rattled off the first five points in play, with Williams converting an and-one drive and Garrison converting under the basket.
• The Bulldogs responded with an 8-1 patch to take the lead.
• Both teams hit their next pair of shots from distance, with Small and Williams cashing in for OSU.
• An 8-2 Cowboy run was snapped by a pair of Bulldogs layups to enter the 11-minute media timeout down one. In the opening nine minutes, play included seven lead changes and one tie.
• OSU returned from the break with a 13-2 run, including 10-consecutive points, to take a 30-21 lead.
• Williams punctuated the stretch, throwing down a right-handed tomahawk off a steal and slam.
• SCSU uncorked a 9-0 response to knot the game at 30. 
• The backcourt tandem of Thompson and Small had OSU's final six points in the first half to lead by four.
• OSU played beyond the arc in the first half, hitting seven of its 12 first half shots from three on a seven-of-15 clip (46.7%).
• The Cowboys opened the second half with a 6-1 run, capped by a Williams putback dunk off a Dailey Jr. corner three and a eurostep layup off a steal.
• OSU took its first double-digit lead of the game at the 14:25 mark with a Thompson three. The make was part of a 14-2 run, including a 10-0 patch, which built OSU's lead to 16.
• Garrison threw a full-court pass to Dailey Jr. for a fastbreak jam to close its 10-0 span and lead 57-41.
• The Cowboys held a double-digit lead for the remainder of play, inflating to 22 at its largest.

The OSU Win…

• Marked their fourth straight win and sixth in its last eight outings.
• Guaranteed a winning non-conference record for the 37th consecutive season.
• Upped its home record to 6-2.
• Moved to 7-3 all-time in New Year's Eve games.
• Made them 1-0 all-time vs. SCSU.
• Boosted its non-conference record under Boynton to 62-29 (41-12 at GIA).

Team Streaks:

• OSU has made at least one three-point shot in 775 consecutive games dating back to Jan. 13, 2001
• The Cowboys have put together a collection of unanswered double-digit runs this season, including a pair of 10-point runs on Sunday. In 12 games, OSU has posted eight runs of such caliber this season, highlighted by a 22-0 run against New Orleans. 
• OSU is 7-0 when leading at the half but 0-5 when tied or trailing.
• OSU has had double-digit threes in 6-of-12 games this season.
• The Cowboys have forced 10+ turnovers in 11-of-12 contests this season.
• Going back to last year, OSU has held 21 straight opponents under 80 points.
• Over the last two seasons, OSU is 25-4 when finishing with a higher shooting percentage than the opposition.