STILLWATER, Okla.
— Bryce Thompson delivered an outstanding performance, scoring 14 of his personal best 25 points in the second half, propelling Oklahoma State to a 104-95 victory over UCF on Wednesday night.

Thompson showcased impressive accuracy, hitting 10 of his 15 attempts, which was essential in leading the Cowboys to a record of 13-13, with a 5-10 mark in the Big 12 conference.
Additionally, Abou Ousmane contributed 17 points, although he had to sit out a significant portion of the second half due to foul trouble. Other notable contributions included Arturo Dean with 16 points, Khalil Brantley adding 15, and Marchelus Avery chipping in 10.

On the opposing side, Keyshawn Hall was the standout player for UCF, scoring 34 points, including 9 of 20 shooting from the field and an impressive 14 of 17 from the free-throw line. Darius Johnson also made a strong contribution with 23 points, 19 of which came in the second half, while Mikey Williams added 14 for the Knights (13-13, 4-11). This loss marked the Knights’ seventh consecutive defeat, compounded by the absence of starting big man Moustapha Thiam due to illness.

Johnson’s impressive drive brought UCF to within five points with five minutes remaining, but Oklahoma State responded with six consecutive points, four of which came from Thompson, ultimately securing the win.

The Cowboys established a substantial first-half lead, reaching as much as a 19-point advantage before concluding the half with a 53-40 lead, capitalizing on UCF’s 15 turnovers to outscore them 20-0.

In terms of free-throw shooting, UCF was effective, making 31 of their 38 attempts, while Oklahoma State converted 28 of 35.

With this win, Oklahoma State finally triumphed over UCF for the first time in their four all-time encounters. The two teams are set to meet again on March 5.

Next, Oklahoma State will travel to face No. 23 Kansas on Saturday, while UCF will return to their home court to take on Utah on Sunday.