OKLAHOMA CITY- Bedlam lived up to the name as missed opportunities doom Cowboys.
Oklahoma beat Oklahoma State 85-76 on Saturday afternoon at Paycom Center. It was the Cowboys first loss this season.
“It’s kind of a recurring theme with us having things that we need to fix that we have not fixed yet,” coach Steve Lutz said. “Until we fix some things on the defensive end, the results are going to be the same.”
Oklahoma State took the lead in the second half after trailing most of the game but could not overcome shooting 38 percent from the field.
“From when Oklahoma called the timeout with 11 minutes left, they made a basket on 12 of 15 trips,” Lutz said. “That is inexcusable. We made baskets on nine of our trips, but we have to get those stops and get rebounds.”
The Cowboys have been good this season at sharing the ball. On Saturday the team ended with only 11 assists on 27 made baskets.
“I think we took a lot of selfish shots in the first half,” Lutz said. “We had been sharing the ball at about a 50 percent rate, so that is on us.”
The Cowboys were better from the field in the second half but could not keep Oklahoma off the board.
“We got out rebounded by ten after that timeout,” Lutz said. “We have talked all year about playing through our defense and winning grimy games, and that is where you are defined.”
The Cowboys missed 11 layups in the second half.
Kanye Clary led the Cowboys with 18 points. He was one of four Cowboys to end in double digits. The offensive production was overshadowed by the miscues defensively.
“All week coach stressed being in the right positions defensively and get stops and we as players did not go out and do that,” Clary said. “I think the next few weeks of practice will be all about working on rotations and getting stops and getting rebounds.”
Christian Coleman was the catalyst for offense in the second half. He scored 16 of his 17 after the break.
“Christian poses some matchup issues for teams and I thought he did a good job,” Lutz said. “When he competes he is a good player.”
Oklahoma State now has three more games before conference play begins.
“There is always a light at the end of the rainbow and our season is not over,” Lutz said. “We are good offensively and we know we can be good defensively. If you are athletic enough and you are talented enough to score offensively then you are certainly athletic enough and talented enough to defend.”
