STILLWATER, Okla. — In a much-needed victory, Oklahoma State defeated Utah 81-72 on Saturday, ending a challenging three-game losing streak. Bryce Thompson was a standout for the Cowboys, contributing 20 points and hitting all four of his attempts from beyond the arc. Additionally, reserve player Marchelus Avery added 17 points, helping solidify the win for Oklahoma State.
The Cowboys, now with an overall record of 11-10 and a Big 12 conference record of 3-7, showcased impressive shooting, hitting 48.9% of their shots (23 for 47) with 40% (8 for 20) from the three-point range. A total of ten players contributed to the scoring, with nine of them finding the basket prior to halftime, establishing a strong team effort.
On the other side, Utah’s Ezra Ausar led his team with 18 points, supported by Gabe Madsen with 15 points, and Mike Sharavjamts, who added 11 points while shooting a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line. Reserve Keanu Dawes also chipped in with 10 points for the Utes.
Oklahoma State jumped out to an early 9-1 lead and held onto the advantage throughout the game. Ausar attempted to close the gap with a layup at 10:50 left in the first half, bringing Utah within four points at 19-15. Avery made a notable dunk with 5:25 remaining in the first half, extending the Cowboys’ lead to 28-22, and they went into the locker room ahead 41-33.
In the second half, Oklahoma State increased their lead to double digits for the first time with a spectacular dunk from Patrick Suemnick, making the score 48-38 at the 16:04 mark. Abou Ousmane later extended the lead even further with two free throws, bringing the score to 56-41 with just over 12 minutes left in the game.
Late in the contest, Madsen’s three-pointer with 1:18 remaining brought Utah closer at 77-70. Nevertheless, Oklahoma State maintained their composure, converting 6 out of 8 free throws in the final moments to secure the victory.
Looking ahead, Utah will host Colorado on Wednesday, while Oklahoma State prepares to face the sixth-ranked Houston on Tuesday.
