Cowboys Soar in Latest AP Poll Following WVU Upset

STILLWATER – For the second-straight week, Oklahoma State climbs several spots in the latest AP Top 25 Poll after a top-10 upset. Following the 85-80 upset of No. 6 West Virginia on Saturday, the Cowboys climbed to No. 12 in the updated AP Poll.

AP Top 25

1. Gonzaga - 24-0 (1)
2. Baylor - 21-1 (3)
3. Illinois - 20-6 (4)
4. Michigan - 19-3 (2)
5. Iowa - 20-7 (5)
6. Alabama - 21-6 (8)
7. Houston - 21-3 (9)
8. Arkansas - 21-5 (12)
9. Ohio State - 18-8 (7)
10. West Virginia - 18-8 (6)
11. Kansas - 19-8 (13)
12. Oklahoma State - 18-7 (17)
13. Texas - 17-7 (15)
14. Villanova - 16-5 (10)
15. Florida State - 15-5 (11)
16. Virginia - 17-6 (21)
17. Creighton - 18-7 (14)
18. Loyola Chicago - 24-4 (20)
19. San Diego State - 20-4 (19)
20. Texas Tech - 17-9 (18)
21. Purdue - 18-8 (23) --Tied at 20 with Texas Tech--
22. Virginia Tech - 15-5 (22)
23. Colorado - 20-7 (24)
24. USC - 21-6 (UR)
25. Oklahoma - 14-9 (16)

The Cowboys were led by sophomore point guard Avery Anderson III in the absence of both Cade Cunningham and Isaac Likekele. Anderson dropped a career-high 32 points on 79% shooting from the field.

However, Mike Boynton and Co. are hoping for similar success this coming Thursday as they’re set to face the Mountaineers in the opening round of the Big 12 tournament. The Cowboys earned the No. 5 seed and the Mountaineers the No. 4.

Whether or not Cunningham and Likekele will be back in time for the Big 12 tourney is yet to be seen. Cunningham suffered an ankle sprain against Baylor on Thursday night, and Likekele is still recovering from a hand injury he sustained in practice prior to the first of back-to-back Bedlam games.

"I don't want to presume that,” said Boynton of Cunningham and Likekele’s status. “You know it's Saturday now, we don't play until Thursday. Certainly hopeful, but again, it's always about, where are they? [Are] our medical people telling us they're good? And that means, can they go out and play as hard as they need to help us win. If they can do that physically, then I feel good that they'll be there, but we'll take it day-by-day."

The Cowboys are playing some of the best basketball of all the teams in the Big 12 right now. They’ve won 7 of the last 9 games, including top 10 wins over No. 6 Texas, No. 7 OU and No. 6 West Virginia. That also includes wins over No. 15 Texas Tech and No. 16 OU.