STILLWATER, Okla. — Marchelus Avery played a crucial role in the victory for Oklahoma State as he scored 11 of his total 23 points during the final 10 minutes of the game. This strong performance helped the Cowboys secure an 80-71 win against St. Thomas-Minnesota on Sunday.

The Cowboys exhibited impressive free-throw shooting, sinking 20 of their 28 attempts, while the Tommies struggled from long range, making 15 of 36 three-point attempts.

With just over a minute remaining, Robert Jennings II extended Oklahoma State’s lead to 13 points, 77-63, by converting two free throws. However, the Tommies responded promptly with a three-pointer from Drake Dobbs, narrowing the gap to 10 points. Kendall Blue followed with another three-pointer in the closing seconds, bringing the score to 79-71.

Bryce Thomoson was the only Cowboys starter in double figures, contributing 11 points to the team’s effort. Meanwhile, Avery showcased his skills off the bench, successfully making 6 of 8 free throws and recording three steals. Patrick Suemnick also scored 11 points. As a team, Oklahoma State shot 27 out of 60 from the field, finishing with a shooting percentage of 45%. However, their long-distance shooting left something to be desired as they connected on only 6 of 22 attempts.

For St. Thomas-Minnesota, Kendall Blue emerged as the standout player, recording a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds and making 4 of 7 from behind the arc. Drake Dobbs added 14 points, hitting 2 of 3 from three-point range, while Nolan Minnessale contributed 13 points. Carter Bjerke also had a notable performance, scoring 12 points and grabbing five rebounds, with his shooting from long range at 4 of 8. The Tommies collectively finished the game shooting 40.3% from the field, but their accuracy from distance was notable at 41.7%.