Cowboys Cruise to 85-65 Exhibition Win over Arkansas-Monticello

On Bedlam’s eve Oklahoma State welcomed Arkansas-Monticello for an exhibition game inside Gallagher-Iba Arena. The Cowboys looked a little disjointed to start, falling behind 10-4 to the Weevils, but quickly pulled ahead behind leading scorer Jeffrey Carroll.

Carroll started out hot making two his first three shots and was the Cowboys’ only double-digit scorer at halftime with 10 points on 4 of 7 shooting. Mitchell Solomon chipped in 9 points on 4 of 6 shooting including a corner 3 before the break.

The Weevils kept it relatively close to start the second period before OSU ballooned its lead to 21 points with a 7-0 run and it was pretty much over midway through the second half.

Four Cowboys scored in double digits led by Carroll with 19 points on 8 of 12 shooting (0 for 3 from 3) and junior wing Tavarius Shine, also with 19. Shine missed most of last season with injury but started fast in 2017 with a 5-of-8 performance from the 3-point line and grabbed 7 rebounds. Solomon ended with 11 points and Cam McGriff had 10 to go along with 6 rebounds.

Davon Dillard and Thomas Dziagwa did not participate in the exhibition, both rehabbing from offseason injuries. Big man Yankuba Sima is not yet eligible due to NCAA transfer rules.

We did get our first look at Cal State-Fullerton transfer Kendall Smith. The fifth-year senior got the start over sophomore Brandon Averette but didn’t shoot the ball particularly well.

Smith was 1 for 8 with 5 points but dished out 7 assists to just one turnover. Most importantly, he seemed comfortable, as you would expect from a fifth-year player and showed to have a good handle on the offense.

On the other hand, true freshman Zack Dawson looked a bit out of sorts during his first taste of college ball. He went 0 for 4 from the field and turned the ball over twice in 12 minutes off of the bench.

There’s really not a ton to learn from an exhibition game against a Division-II school. When it comes to this team we will have to learn as we go, much like first-year head coach Mike Boynton.

Next up: The Cowboys will host Pepperdine on Friday, November 10 at 7:30 p.m. at Gallagher-Iba Arena. That one will actually count.