Oklahoma State took care of business in the first of three games in Puerto Rico as the Pokes beat Puerto Rico Fuerza, 94-88.
The game, honestly, went exactly the way you thought it would: lots of athleticism, length and speed shown throughout, but a lot of sloppy play on both ends of the court as we’re not even to August yet.
A few thoughts on the first 40 minutes of action we’ve seen of the new-look Pokes. I’m going to double-down on the athleticism, length and speed on both ends of the court. Steve Lutz and Co. did a good job of playing the portal. The combo of Julius Halaifonua and Kanye Clary is going to be a fun one to watch. Clary returns for his second season in Stillwater as more confident and Halaifonua brings size and experience down low, a combo we saw connect a few times tonight.
While it’s very early, freshman Anthony Felesi showed a ton of upside against Fuerza. Lots of explosiveness and speed getting up and down the court, while his length posed a problem on both ends of the court.
If allowed to play following the upcoming legal battle, guard Kashie Natt is going to be a difference-maker on both ends of the court for the Pokes. After Fuerza took their first lead of the game, 60-59, with just under two minutes left in the third quarter, Luka Bogavac hit a bucket a few seconds later to make it 61-60. On the next trip back down the court for the Pokes, Bogavac missed a three, but Natt was already flying through the air to grab the miss for a thunderous put-back dunk. As expected, he was also a stalwart on the defensive end.
