In Charleston, South Carolina, Oklahoma State claimed victory over Miami with a score of 80-74 on Friday, advancing further in the consolation bracket of the Charleston Classic. Bryce Thompson led the scoring for Oklahoma State with 17 points while Marchelus Avery contributed significantly with 15 points and eight rebounds. The win improves Oklahoma State’s record to 4-1, and they are set to face off for the fifth place on Sunday, while Miami, now at 3-2, seeks to avoid the tournament’s last place.
The Cowboys dominated the first half, going into halftime with a 43-27 advantage after drilling 8 of 15 from beyond the arc. In contrast, Miami struggled, making only 8 of 27 shots overall during the opening period. Oklahoma State showcased their shooting prowess, with four players connecting from three-point range, including Brandon Newman, who sank three shots from deep.
Thompson extended Oklahoma State’s lead to 20 points with a bank-shot early in the second half, pushing the score to 49-29. Meanwhile, Miami had a rocky start, hitting only 1 of their first 8 attempts, and remained behind by double digits throughout the second half. Miami’s breakthrough came when Matthew Cleveland made a tough basket in the lane while being fouled, converting the free throw to reduce the deficit to 75-67 with just 49 seconds remaining. However, Arturo Dean quickly countered by sinking two free throws to ensure the Cowboys’ lead was restored.
Thompson’s performance was also punctuated by a significant milestone, as he scored his 1,000th career point with a basket in the lane, bringing the score to 55-38 with 13:01 still left in the game. For Miami, Nijel Pack led his team with 20 points, supported by Brandon Johnson who recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Cleveland added 11 points, while Lynn Kidd and Paul Djobet chipped in with 10 points each.
With this win, Oklahoma State showcased their shooting and teamwork, positioning themselves for a better finish in the tournament while Miami looks to regroup in their final game.