Oklahoma State Cowboys forward Marchelus Avery (0) makes a 3-point of Kansas State Wildcats Guard Coleman Hawkins (33) during a men’s Big 12 Basketball game between Oklahoma State University Cowboys (OSU) and Kansas State Wildcats at Gallagher-Egga Arena Arena Arena in the Gallagher Euba Arena. Okla., Tuesday, January 7, 2025. When they play each other on Saturday in Stillwater, Okla., Oklahoma State can only hope to match what Utah did after their last meeting.
The Cowboys (10-10, 2-7 BIG 12) take a three-game losing line in their matchup against the visitor Ut (12-8, 4-5) and need a dramatic change.
That scenario played out for Utah a few weeks ago when it snapped its own conference with three games and lost the line with a leading 83-62 victory over Cowboys in Salt Lake City. Other continued to win four of six matches, including Tuesday’s 69-66 home victory over Cincinnati.
Oklahoma State has lost seven out of nine matches and has an upward road to qualify for games after the season. The team leans on Marchelus Avery (12.5 points per match), Abou Ousmane (11.9) and Bryce Thompson (11.4) for points.
Utsa and Cowboys struggled each with turnover in their latest excursion.
Oklahoma State committed 16 sales during the first half on the way to 21 for the game, which led to an exhaust loss of 85-57 to Kansas State.
“Much of our lack of defense is because we turned the ball over 21 times and gave them 28 points,” said coach Steve Lutz, according to the student newspaper.
Although excluded bearcats, they concluded with 19 turnover. Utah coach Craig Smith regretted Giveaways and said that Out’s 53.1 percent shooting was “a silver lining” that helped them overcome the errors.
“I felt our guys thought they were Magic Johnson and John Stockton out there, and guys, you’re not,” Smith said. “As, just make simple games, because when – we kept saying it in timeouts – when we make simple games and simple decisions, we make 53 percent (and) we get almost everything we wanted. You ‘just have to be tougher with the ball. ”
Gabe Madsen’s performance was another bright place for Utah. He got 18 points, met three late free throw and pulled out four assists in one of his best conference trips. Although he shot only 5-for-13, missing five of six 3’s, it was encouraging that excluding the leading goal scores reached double figures for the third time in nine BIG 12 matches.
“It’s been strange,” Madsen said. “Of course I have never really gone through anything like it, so I don’t know. I’ve talked to my dad about only when I would go through a little downturn or whatever in high school, he would just do it talk about going back to The basics, kind of just taking what the defense gives you and trying to find other ways to help the team out and what not. ”
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