Facing Eastern Washington- Here's The Scout
- Top overall seed Oklahoma State will return home to host Eastern Washington on Sunday in the second round of the NIT after beating Youngstown State Wednesday. Tip is set for 1 p.m. on ESPN2 with James Westling and former Oklahoma State standout Bryndon Manzer on the call while Cowboy fans can listen to Dave Hunziker and John Holcomb on the Cowboy Radio Network or Varsity App.
- The Cowboys finished the regular-season with an 18-15 record, including an 8-10 mark in Big 12 play. They also collected three wins against ranked opponents and six quad-1 wins on the season. OSU beat Oklahoma to advance to the second round of the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship last week before falling to two-seed Texas in the quarterfinal.
- Eastern Washington enters with a 23-10 record after going 16-2, winning a regular-season conference title in the Big Sky. The Eagles went on an 18-game win streak before dropping their final two games of the regular season and getting upset by Northern Arizona in the first round of the Big Sky conference tournament. They bring a 10-6 road-game record to Stillwater.
- Oklahoma State eliminated Youngstown State in its opening game of the NIT on Wednesday in Youngstown. The Cowboys traveled despite being the higher seed due to staffing issues as the university also hosts the NCAA Wrestling Championships in Tulsa. In the win, OSU had three players record a double-double in the same game (Moussa Cisse, Tyreek Smith, Quion Williams) for the first time since Nov. 14, 2009. The double-doubles were the first of Smith and Williams' careers.
- This is the Cowboys' 13th ever appearance in the NIT, dating back to 1938. The number one seeding is their highest in program history in the NIT. OSU's last appearance in the tournament was in 2018 as a two-seed, when it made its deepest NIT run in modern program history, advancing to the quarterfinals. After the win over Youngstown State in the first round, the Cowboys are 7-6 all-time in the first round of the NIT.
The Cowboys in the NIT
- Oklahoma State is making its first NIT appearance since 2018, when it advanced to the quarterfinals. The Cowboys will be making their first appearance in a postseason tournament since the 2021 season, when they made the NCAA Tournament.
- This is the Cowboys first time entering the tournament as a one seed in six appearances since seeding began in 2017. Despite the high seeding, the Cowboys traveled to Ohio for their first-round game against Youngstown State, where they earned the first road win in program history in the NIT.
- In 2018, OSU entered the NIT as a two-seed, matching its highest seed in the tournament since seeding began in 2017. The Cowboys got wins over Florida-Gulf Coast and Stanford in the first two rounds before falling to Western Kentucky in the quarterfinals.
- With the win over Youngstown State, OSU moved to 7-6 all-time in the first round of the NIT, including wins in each of its last three appearances. Before that, the Cowboys lost three-straight opening round games in three-straight years from 2006-08.
- Oklahoma State is now 4-1 as the higher seed over its last three NIT appearances. In 2018, the two-seed Cowboys made their deepest run in the tournament in program history, advancing to the quarterfinals.
Late-Season Quick Hitters
- Tyreek Smith has started the last four games for the Cowboys, averaging 8.3 points and 9.5 rebounds per game while recording the first double-double of his career against Youngstown State.
- In the absence of Avery Anderson III, Caleb Asberry has started the last 12 games, averaging 13.4 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 32.0 minutes per game.
- After the Wichita State result earlier this season in Wichita, Oklahoma State has held at least one opponent to less than 50 points in a game in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2016.
- There have been 17 seasons since the 2000-01 year that OSU had at least one game holding an opponent to less than 50 points while the program has done so in back-to-back seasons 13 times during the stretch.
- Only seven teams (UT Arlington, Southern Illinois, TCU, Texas Tech, Kansas State, Kansas and Baylor) scored more than 60 points in GIA this season in 16 home games.
- A big part of those numbers? The Cowboys held a 81-32 blocked shots advantage at home, with Cisse leading the way at 27. Boone recorded 20, himself.
- For the first time in his career, Kalib Boone was named the Big 12 Player of the Week earlier this season. Boone averaged 21.5 points and 5.0 rebounds as the surging Cowboys won three straight games and five of six.
- For his efforts against Iowa State and Oklahoma in January, Oklahoma State’s Avery Anderson III was named the Big 12 Player of the Week. He averaged 16.0 points per game. The honor was the first of his career.
- The Cowboys have led the Big 12 in blocks most of the season, ranking 16th nationally at 4.9 per game. They also lead the conference in field goal percentage defense, ranking 13th in the nation, holding opponents to just 39.7 percent shooting from the field.
The Big 12 Championship - A Recap
- Oklahoma State entered the Big 12 Championship as a seven seed, pairing them up against 10-seed Oklahoma in the first round. It was the first appearance in the tournament for OSU since making a run to the title game in 2021.
- The Cowboys beat Oklahoma, 57-49, Wednesday night in the first round of the tournament, giving them three-straight wins in Big 12 Championship openers. The win was also OSU's third against the Sooners this season, marking the first time it has beaten the same opponent three times in a season since the 2011-12 season, and the first time Oklahoma State has done it against OU since the 1964-65 season.
- The 49 points allowed by the Cowboys against Oklahoma matched the lowest total given up all season, along with the 49 Wichita State scored on December 17th. They also held the Sooners to 20 points in the first half, marking Oklahoma's lowest scoring half of the season.
- After winning its first round game, Oklahoma State advanced to face two-seed Texas Thursday evening. The Cowboys fell, 61-47, ending their run in this year's Big 12 Championship. Despite the loss, OSU held the Longhorns to just 37.3 percent shooting from the field and 31.6 percent from three while out-rebounding Texas 45-33.
Defending With Purpose
- Oklahoma State has boasted one of the most fierce defenses in the Big 12 throughout the season. The Cowboys rode their defense to eight conference wins this season and a win in the Big 12 Championships.
- OSU's defensive effort begins with protecting the paint. The Cowboys rank first in the big 12 and 16th nationally in blocks, averaging 4.9 per game. First-Team All-Big 12 Defense big man Moussa Cisse has led the charge when healthy, blocking 2.0 shots per game. Kalib Boone has added 1.2 blocks a game himself.
- Opposing teams have also had a hard time finding open shots against Oklahoma State, as the Cowboys rank first in the Big 12 and 13th nationally in field goal percentage defense. Opposing teams are shooting just 39.7 percent against OSU this season, while the Cowboys have held 23 of their 34 opponents below 40.0 percent shooting this season.
- Oklahoma State remains one of the toughest teams to score against in the conference, ranking second in scoring defense, allowing just 66.0 points per game. The Cowboys have held 10 opponents to below 60 points this season, going 9-1 in those games.
- A key part of OSU's defensive success has been finishing possessions, as it ranks first in the Big 12 in rebounds per game (37.2) and second in rebound margin (3.5). The Cowboys have out-rebounded their opponent in their last five games and carry a 16-7 record when managing to out-rebound opponents this season.
Filling the Void
- Oklahoma State guard Avery Anderson III has missed the last 12 games and is out indefinitely. In 22 games this season, Anderson III averaged 11.1 points, 3.4 assists and 1.5 steals per game. Anderson III was also one of two Cowboys (Kalib Boone) to be named Big 12 Player of the Week this season.
- Anderson III's absence has opened the door for Oklahoma State's other veteran guards to step up. John-Michael Wright has done just that, averaging 11.9 points per game while shooting 36.9 percent from the field and 32.1 percent from three in those 12 games.
- Bryce Thompson has also taken on a portion of the scoring load, averaging 12.7 points, 2.9 assists and 2.7 rebounds while playing 32.5 minutes per game in his last 12.
- Caleb Asberry has entered the Cowboys lineup during this recent stretch, starting all 12 games in Anderson III's absence. Asberry is scoring 13.4 points per game while shooting 41.0 percent from the field in 32.0 minutes per game during this stretch.
Conference Recognition
- A pair of Cowboys earned All-Big 12 recognition as a result of their play against conference opponents this season. Kalib Boone was named to the All-Big 12 Third Team while Moussa Cisse earned Big 12 All-Defensive honors, becoming the first Cowboy to earn the honor in back-to-back seasons since Marcus Smart.
- Boone led OSU in scoring in conference play at 12.4 points per game to go along with 5.1 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game. The senior logged 10 games of double-figure scoring, including three 20-point games and a career-high 27 points against Kansas. Other notable games included a 16 point, 10 rebound and six block performance against Texas, and a 25 point and six rebound game to lead the Cowboys to an upset No. 15 TCU.
- Despite missing four games, Cisse was named to the All-Defense team for the second-straight season. The seven-footer ranked third in the conference with 1.4 blocks per game while also collecting 5.8 rebounds per game. Cisse recorded a block in all but two Big 12 games and had two or more in five of his 14 games played. He recorded his most against a Big 12 opponent when he had four in the Cowboys' win over Texas Tech in the regular-season finale.
If You Haven't Watched Us This Year
- Oklahoma State finished the season with an 18-15 record, including an 8-10 mark in America's toughest conference. The Cowboys compiled six quad-1 wins to go along with their three wins over ranked opponents.
- OSU went 8-4 in non-conference play, including wins over DePaul, Wichita State and Southland Conference champion Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. The Cowboys' losses include No. 11 UConn and Virginia Tech while their average margin in losses was only five points.
- Oklahoma State began conference play winning just one of its first five games, with all four losses coming against ranked opponents. The lone win came against a West Virginia team that was receiving votes at the time.
- After the tough start to Big 12 play, the Cowboys hit their best stretch of the season. Beginning with the first of its three wins over Oklahoma, OSU rattled off seven wins in eight games, including a season-best win streak of five. During this stretch, the Cowboys swept a top-12 Iowa State team and took down No. 15 TCU in Stillwater.
- Oklahoma State would close the year losing five of its last six heading into the Big 12 Championship. As the seven seed, the Cowboys beat Oklahoma for a third time to advance past the first round before falling to two-seed Texas in the quarterfinals.
The 100 Games Played Club Gained Two More
- Oklahoma State’s Avery Anderson III and Kalib Boone both played in their 100th game in a Cowboy uniform against Kansas in the Big 12 opener for the Cowboys. In doing so, they became the first two players on the current roster to play 100 college basketball games. John-Michael Wright, who transferred in, played his 100th basketball game against West Virginia.
- Other notable members of the club include Darwyn Alexander, Joe Adkins, James Anderson, Markel Brown, Terry Collins, JamesOn Curry, Byron Eaton, Marcus Dove, Phil Forte, Isaac Likekele, Desmond Mason, Ivan McFarlin, Marshall Moses, Keiton Page and more.
- Anderson III’s first game came on Nov. 6, 2019, in an 80-75 win against Oral Roberts in Gallagher-Iba Arena. He played 13 minutes with five points, two steals and an assist.
- Kalib Boone’s first game was the same night. He played 10 minutes, bringing in four rebounds and recorded two blocks.
An Oklahoma State Win Would...
- Improve the Cowboys to 2-0 in the Eastern Washington series.
- Improve the Cowboys to 11-13 all-time in the NIT.
- Improve the Cowboys to 7-2 all-time at home in the NIT.
- Improve the Cowboys to 12-5 in Gallagher-Iba Arena this season.
- Improve the Cowboys to 10-6 in the postseason in the Mike Boynton era.
- Advance the Cowboys to the NIT quarterfinals in back-to-back appearances.
- Be Mike Boynton's 107th win at OSU, tying him with Paul Hansen for fourth most in program history.
Streaks and Trends
- OSU has made at least one three-pointer in 761 consecutive games dating back to Jan. 13, 2001.
- The Cowboys have posted 10 or more assists in 28 of 34 games this season, including five of the last seven.
- Dating back to last season, OSU has held 33 of its past 38 opponents below their season scoring average.
- Oklahoma State reached double-digit second chance points in 13 of 18 conference games this season, with a high of 16 against Kansas State and Baylor.
- As a team, the Cowboys have reached at least three blocks in 29 of 34 games this season. OSU leads the Big 12 with 4.9 blocked shots per game, which ranks 16th in the country.
- OSU has held 23 of its 34 opponents to 35 percent shooting or less from the three-point line while 17 of 34 have shot less than 30 percent.
- The Cowboys have made 10 or more free throws in 24 of 34 games this season after doing so in 18 of their 30 games last season.
- OSU has forced 10 or more turnovers in 21 of its last 22 Big 12 games.
- Oklahoma State has recorded at least five steals in 25 of its 34 games this season.
- Caleb Asberry has started the last 12 games for the Cowboys. In those starts, Asberry is averaging 13.4 points on 2.1 made threes per game.
- Asberry has made at least one three in 14-straight games and 17 of 18 conference games.
- OSU recorded five or more blocks in eight of its 13 road games this season.
- Bryce Thompson continues to shoot the three at a high clip in conference play, making 39.3 percent of his attempts while averaging 1.8 makes per game.
- The Cowboys have shot better than 40 percent from the field in 12 of their last 17 games.
- Oklahoma State is 18-3 when they shoot the same percentage or better than their opponent from the field this season. They are 1-12 when their opponent has a higher field goal percentage.
- The Cowboys are 16-5 this season when out-rebounding their opponent. When getting out-rebounded, they are 3-8.