Oklahoma State Drops Most Points Since 2017 in 104-95 Win Over UCF

STILLWATER – Oklahoma State recorded their highest-scoring half of the season, 53 points in the first half, and most points in a game since 2017 on Wednesday evening as the Cowboys rolled to a 104-95 win over UCF. 

With the win, the Cowboys got back to .500 on the season, 13-13, and 5-10 in Big 12 play.

Not only was the first half the most points the Cowboys have scored in a half, this season, but it was the most since 2017, and it was one of the best halves of basketball the team has played all season. It also marked the first time since 2017 the Pokes scored 100+ points.

Bryce Thompson had a career-night as he dropped a career-high 25 points on an even more impressive 10-of-15 shooting from the floor. Abou Ousmane finished with 17 points on 50% shooting from the floor before fouling out, but recorded his 150^th career block.

Arturo Dean finished with 16 points, Khalil Brantley with 15 and Marchelus Avery with 10. 

As a team, the Cowboys shot 47% from the floor, just 22% from 3-point range and 88% from the free throw line. They outrebounded the Knights 39-36, forced 20 turnovers, leading to an impressive 26 points on the other end. Comparatively, they turned the ball over just seven times, leading to just five points, and outscored the Knights 46-36 in the paint.

They shot an impressive 53% from the floor, 31% from 3-point range and 86% from the free throw line, 6-of-7 shooting, compared to 12-of-14 from the line on the other end for the Knights. 

But the most important number for the Cowboys in the first half was turnovers forced and points off said turnovers. They turned the Knights over 15 times to just four on the other end, creating 20 points off the turnovers. They also dominated the paint in the first frame, outscoring the Knights 26-14.

Both Bryce Thompson and Abou Ousmane had great first halves, with Ousmane posting 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the floor. Thompson was right behind him with 11 points on 50% shooting from the floor. 

To play into the turnovers forced by the Pokes, they recorded one with just a few seconds left in the first half, which could’ve been called a defensive foul and sending Keyshawn Hall to the free throw line. But it wasn’t called, leading to a technical foul on Hall after the clocked had stopped. Thompson took the shots, missing the first and hitting the second.

Up 56-44 with 17:17 left in the game, Ousmane picked up his third and fourth fouls on a push on an offensive rebound attempt and then was called for a technical foul saying something to the ref. 

The Knights didn’t get their first points on an OSU turnover until just over 12 minutes left in the game following an and-one Johnson, making it 23-3 in favor of the Pokes. 

Fouls became an issue once again for the Pokes in the second half, allowing UCF to stay in the game. The Cowboys led by as much as 16 points a minute into the second half, 56-40. But four free throws and a fastbreak layup by the Knights made it a 10-point game. The Knights kept it right around 10 points until the five-minute mark when Johnson make it a five-point game with two quick layups, 81-76. 

One big reason for the comeback is Ousmane being on the bench for nearly the entire second half following the two quick fouls giving him four. He checked back into the game with 4:37 left in the game, immediately recording a rebound and then got fouled on the other end, sending him to the free throw line, making both shots to put the Pokes back up eight, 84-76.

On the next OSU possession, Thompson set a career-high in scoring with a huge bucket to make it an 11-point game, 87-76.