Five Thoughts on Oklahoma State’s 104-95 Victory against UCF

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STILLWATER — For just the fourth time in Big 12 play (ever, not this season), the Cowboys eclipsed 100 points.

Oklahoma State beat UCF 104-95 on Wednesday night in Gallagher-Iba Arena in what was a massive bounce-back game for an OSU squad that scored just 55 points in a loss to Texas Tech on Saturday. Here are five thoughts on Wednesday’s game.

1. An Offensive Explosion

The Cowboys scored 100 points for the first time since Dec. 22, 2017 (Mike Boynton’s first season). After scoring 55 total points against Texas Tech on Saturday, the Cowboys had 53 at the half against the Knights.

It was the brand of basketball OSU fans dreamed of seeing when Steve Lutz got hired. The Pokes were flying up and down the floor. After makes, misses, didn’t matter. OSU finished with 82 possessions. That’s the second-most they’ve had in a game this season following the free-thr0w fest that was OSU’s game against FAU in Charleston.

Perhaps the most impressive part about OSU’s point total is that the Cowboys did that despite having a pedestrian day from 3-point range. OSU was 6-for-27 (22%) from deep. But the Pokes shot 62% on 2s and made 80% of their 35 foul shots.

Lutz said he doesn’t envision the Cowboys playing at an 82-possession pace all the time, especially if the Cowboys can hone in the defensive intensity he is after, but the Pokes on Wednesday lived up to the frantic reputation Lutz teams have.

2. The Most Fun Stretch

Across about two and a half minutes in the first half, the Cowboys made three 3s, a layup and a dunk in what was probably the most free-flowing stretch of Cowboy basketball in some time.

It all started with an Abou Ousmane steal before he hit a 3 at the other end. Ousmane attempted three 3s Wednesday night and is now 12-for-24 from deep on the season.

Shortly after, Jamyron Keller then came away with a steal and pushed it up the floor to Arturo Dean for a quick layup that forced UCF coach  Johnny Dawkins to take a timeout.

The teams traded a few misses. Dean came down with a rebound and quickly got the ball up the floor for a Bryce Thompson dunk.

Ousmane then got another steal which led to a quick Dean 3, in what was probably the game’s peak in terms of energy in the building. It was a spot where a coach would normally call a timeout, but Dawkins had just used one.

UCF responded with a 3 on the other end just for Keller to answer.

It was a beautiful stretch that Dean had his fingerprints all over. He scored two of OSU’s baskets during that stretch and assisted on the other 3.

Dean is all-out energy all the time. He finished the game with 16 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals.

3. Vintage Bryce Thompson

Bryce Thompson put up a career-high 25 points Wednesday, and he did so in classic Thompson fashion: living in the midrange.

He hit five midrange jumpers, setting his career-high despite going just 1-for-4 from 3. He was a perfect 5-for-5 from the field in the second half, where he scored 14 of his points.

“Just playing, man,” said Thompson of his performance. “I saw my first one go in, and from there, it was kind of just taking what they were giving me. Teammates did a great job of finding me in transition, allowing me to get easy buckets. I was just kinda playing off the game. It was a really fast-paced game, a lot of possessions, so I was just trying to figure out where I can pick my spots and make an impact.”

It’s a continuation of what has been the best stretch of Thompson’s career. Since OSU’s Jan. 7 game against Kansas State, Thompson is averaging 15.9 points a game. That stretch of a dozen games has seen Thompson score in double figures 10 times and score 20 or more points three times.

4. Assists and Turnovers

Among all the gaudy point totals, the Cowboys won this game because they took care of the ball and UCF did not.

OSU had just seven turnovers. That’s the fewest the Pokes have had in a game since playing Nevada in November in Charleston. OSU had 17 assists on 35 made baskets. It’s the most assists the Cowboys have had in a game since dishing 21 against Seton Hall in December.

Meanwhile, the Knights had 20 turnovers which led to 26 OSU points. It’s the most turnovers OSU has forced in a game since Tulsa in December.

It was a big night for “most since” stats.

5. Ousmane’s Second Straight T, Foul Out

The Cowboys were 19 points better than UCF with Abou Ousmane on the floor. The issue being, he wasn’t on the floor for much of the second half.

Ousmane played just six minutes in the second half. He picked up his third foul with 17:17 to play then got T’d up for arguing it, giving him his fourth foul. He sat the bench and didn’t return until there was 4:37 left and fouled out with 1:29 to play. He finished with 17 points in 21 minutes.

Something similar happened against Texas Tech this weekend, where Ousmane picked up a technical and fouled out. The Cowboys need him on the floor. He’s the only true center in OSU’s rotation, and he’s one of OSU’s best players. It’s evident how much better this team is with him.

“I need to see him control his emotions,” Lutz said. “That’s unacceptable from him. He cannot let the emotions in the game and the emotions from officiating, whether it’s good calls or bad calls in his favor, effect his play. We need him on the floor, and he’s gotta be better.”

Postgame News Conference