Oklahoma State’s Season Ends With 96-70 Loss to Wichita State in NIT

STILLWATER – Oklahoma State’s season came to an end Sunday night as the Cowboys lost to Wichita State, 90-76, in the second round of the NIT.

With the loss, the Cowboys finish the season 20-15 overall and 6-12 in Big 12 play.

The Cowboys were led by Christian Coleman, who posted a season-high 22 points and another double-double with 10 rebounds.

Kanye Clary was close behind with 19 points. 

As a team, the Cowboys shot 42% from the floor, 30% from 3-point range and just 56% from the free throw line on 10-of-18 shooting. They were outrebounded 46-38. Including a 14-11 difference in offensive rebounds leading to 23 second chance points for the Shockers and just four for the Pokes.

After trailing by as many 14 points in the first half, the Cowboys battled back to make it a two-point game with one minute left in the first half. The Shockers would go on a quick 5-0 run to end to half, making to 44-37 going into the break. 

But the Cowboys would go on a bit of a run early in the second half as they took their first lead of the game at the 17-minute mark of the second half following a missed three by Wichita State. Christian Coleman hauled in the long miss and drove the length of the court to hit a contested layup. 

It would be short-lived though as the Shockers would go on a 20-5 run to give them their largest lead of the game, a 15-point 68-53 lead with nine minutes left in the second half. Things didn’t get any better for the Cowboys as the Shockers jumped out to a 21-point lead, 83-62, with just over four minutes left in the game

Guard Kenyon Giles exploded in the second half for 18 points on 50% shooting from the floor and 6-of-11 from 3-point range. He finished with 28 points overall on 10-of-24 shooting from the floor, 8-of-16 from 3-point range.