STILWATER – Oklahoma State played one of its most complete games of the season as the Pokes beat Utah, 81-72.
With the win, the Cowboys moved to 11-10 on the season and 3-7 in Big 12 play.
The Cowboys got points from everyone who stepped onto the court, with Bryce Thompson leading the way with 20 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the floor and a perfect 4-of-4 from 3-point range and 4-of-4 from the free throw line. It marked his third 20-point game of the season.
Marchelus Avery also finished with double figures with 17 points on 5-of-10 shooting from the floor.
As a team, the Cowboys shot 49% from the floor, 40% from 3-point range and 75% from the free throw line.
The Pokes outrebounded the Utes 33-30, and 25-17 clip on the defensive end.
The Cowboys jumped out to a quick 12-3 lead in the first four minutes of the game on back-to-back threes from Thompson. In fact, he made his first three 3-pointers, finishing the first half with 11 points on 50% shooting from the floor and a perfect 3-for-3 from 3-point range.
It was an eight-point lead going into the break for the Pokes as they forced eight Utah turnovers and 13 fouls, hitting 14-of-16 from the charity stripe.
The Utes started the second half with a 5-2 run before the Cowboys got back to business, going on a 15-6 run in that same time.
That included an impressive fast break dunk by Pat Suemnick, a big three by Chi-Chi Avery and a defensive rebound leading to a fast break layup by Thompson.
Two free throws by Ousmane at the 12:32 mark in the second half gave the Pokes their largest lead of the game, 15 points up 56-41, before the Utes went on a 4-0 run. They nearly extended it to 6-0, but a vicious block by Ousmane led to a bucket by him on the other end, giving him his third block of the game.
Just a few minutes later, Thompson recorded another defensive rebound, opting this time to dish it to a streaking Avery for a fast break dunk. Avery then recorded a fast break layup on the ensuing possession following a Utah turnover, making it a 62-47 game.
Things got a little sticky for the Cowboys as Utah went on a 10-3 run to cut the Pokes lead to just eight points, 65-57, with five minutes left in the game.
The Utes kept their deficit right around 10 points, 71-61, but Bryce had a response as he drilled his fourth three of the game, to make it 74-61. But the Utes responded right back with a three of their own from Madsen, keeping it at 10 points.
Avery hit two free throws to make it a nine-point game once again, 79-70, after a big three by Masden cut it to just seven. Jamyron Keller turned the ball over on the Utah end of the court, leading to two made free throws by the Utes, making it a seven-point game once again, with just under a minute remaining.
An air ball by Madsen down eight gave the Pokes the ball back with 28 seconds left led to a foul on the other end and a made free throw by Brantley to make it a nine-point game and officially out of reach.
