STILLWATER, Okla. — In a thrilling encounter, Oklahoma State conquered No. 9 Iowa State with a final score of 74-68 on Tuesday night, thanks to Abou Ousmane who led the Cowboys with an impressive 25 points. As the action unfolded, fans packed Gallagher-Iba Arena, eventually rushing onto the court to celebrate the victory. This marked Oklahoma State’s first triumph over a ranked opponent this season under the guidance of new coach Steve Lutz.
Arturo Dean also played a crucial role for the Cowboys, contributing 14 points and an impressive seven steals, while Bryce Thompson chipped in with 11 points. Before this game, Oklahoma State was yet to secure a win against teams in the AP Top 25, having sustained substantial defeats against top-ranking contenders such as Texas Tech and Kansas.
For the visiting Cyclones of Iowa State, Josh Jefferson emerged as the top scorer with 17 points, followed by Nate Heise’s 13. Iowa State was striving for a recovery following their recent setback against then-No. 5 Houston. Complicating matters, Keshon Gilbert, a key scorer for the team, was absent due to a muscle strain, and Curtis Jones, the offensive leader averaging over 17 points a game, was restricted to 11 points on 2-for-8 shooting.
Oklahoma State grasped an early advantage with a quick 12-4 lead, capitalizing on Iowa State’s slow start as the Cyclones struggled to find their rhythm, managing just a single field goal in the initial five minutes. A noteworthy halftime advantage of 40-26 was fueled by Ousmane’s 12-point contribution. Despite a determined effort by Iowa State to close the gap to 44-39, a crucial basket from Brandon Newman helped the Cowboys regain momentum. A timely 7-0 run following an Iowa State timeout added to their cushion, stretching the lead to 56-41 before ultimately securing the win.
In terms of takeaways, Iowa State’s performance exposed their particular challenge of playing away from home, despite a formidable 14-1 record on their own court. Their road reflects a mixed journey of 5-5, with an additional 2-1 record at neutral grounds, suggesting the need for focus on games outside Ames to ensure a successful postseason. Conversely, Oklahoma State demonstrated defensive resilience after conceding over 93 points per game in their last three matchups.
A pivotal moment in the game came when Arturo Dean netted a crucial jumper as the shot clock was winding down, extending the Cowboys’ lead to 70-62 with just under a minute left in the game. A noteworthy statistic was Iowa State’s 18 turnovers compared to just 12 by Oklahoma State, a factor that significantly impacted the outcome of the game.
Looking ahead, Iowa State is set to host No. 22 Arizona on Saturday, aiming to bounce back from their recent struggles. Oklahoma State will next face Baylor on the road, seeking to build upon their recent success with another strong performance.
