Five Thoughts on Oklahoma State’s 64-57 Victory against Yale

BOX SCORE

STILLWATER — It wasn’t the most beautiful game of basketball, but the Cowboys topped the reigning Ivy League champions.

Oklahoma State beat Yale 65-57 on Sunday afternoon in Gallagher-Iba Arena to advance to 4-0. The Cowboys have a few days off (days in which Mike Boynton said he intends on recruiting) before hosting Western Michigan on Friday. Here are five thoughts from the Pokes’ win against the Bulldogs.

1. Lubbock Lindy

With OSU struggling offensively, Lindy Waters took over in a way that was similar to how he single-handily dragged the Cowboys to overtime in Lubbock last season.

For those who need a refresher, Waters hit four 3s in the final minute against Texas Tech to send the game to overtime. The Cowboys trailed 65-59 with a minute left in that game before Waters’ takeover.

It wasn’t as crazy Sunday, but Waters scored eight points in three straight possessions in the final 2:17 to put Yale down for good.

Waters’ spree started with back-to-back 3-pointers in a game the Cowboys couldn’t hit water (pun intended) if they fell out of a boat. OSU finished 4-for-19 from deep, and Waters had three of them.

His last bucket of the night came when he backed down Eric Monroe near the free-throw line and hit what has become a staple fadeaway jumper.

Waters finished with a game-high 19 points to go with five rebounds.

2. Lindy’s Special Game on His Special Day

Waters’ night was made all the more special as OSU played in their N7 uniforms in celebration of Native American Heritage Month.

After the game Waters, who is Kiowa and Cherokee, held a Native American giveaway ceremony where he and his family gave gifts to people who have helped Waters in his four years in Stillwater.

The idea of the ceremony is when one gives, he or she receives. Waters said it is sometimes customary for people to give away all of their belongings, and the community gives back to them.

Waters draped the likes of Mike Boynton, Mike Holder and Burns Hargis in blankets, but it wasn’t just the university big-wigs that received gifts. Waters gave to people like director of player development Keiton Page, video coordinator Dre Denbow and even OSUPD Chief of Police Leon Jones.

“It meant a lot to me,” Waters said. “Every single person has a different role, and they all do their job to a T every single day. Even my teammates, I gotta give them credit as well. They didn’t get any gifts today, but they’re the ones out there battling with me. It just feels great to give back to the people that helped me.”

The blanket Waters gave Boynton was the Circle of Life blanket. Waters said that blanket is the highest honor of blanket he could give to someone.

“I don’t even know how to quantify that,” Boynton said getting teary-eyed. “It’s really kind of what you get into coaching for is to have such an impact on a kid’s life that he feels like he wants to do something like that for you.

“Shy of getting emotional, it means a big deal to me. It’s probably one of the highlights of my coaching career at this point.”

3. That was Ugly (Offense)

The Cowboys were 4-for-19 from 3-point range, 8-for-15 from the foul line and 15-for-26 in layups attempts, and they still managed to win the game.

I don’t necessarily think it was that they were getting bad looks either. After going 7-for-10 from deep in Charleston, Thomas Dziagwa jacked up six threes (a handful open) and made just one.

Plenty of those layups were contested, as Yale had four blocks, but OSU was just woeful at times at the rim.

Cam McGriff missed a dunk for crying out loud. It was just one of those nights.

4. That was Pretty (Defense)

That leads us to our next point, OSU was able to play that poorly on offense because of how great they played on defense.

The Cowboys forced the Bulldogs into 22 turnovers (22!). When Yale wasn’t giving the ball back to OSU, the Bulldogs were jacking up one of their 31 3-point attempts, only nine of which went in.

“That’s why the identity of our program is defense first,” Boynton said. “There are gonna be nights like that, and really good teams, we’re not that yet, we’re good, we’re not really good, find a way to win consistently no matter what the circumstances are.”

Usually when this era of defensive OSU basketball is mentioned, one thinks Yor Anei. Anei was solid at times on that end tonight, particularly with a big, late block, but it was the guards for the most part.

Likekele had four steals to go with his stat-stuffing line of 11 points, five rebounds and six assists. He and freshman Avery Anderson terrified the Bulldogs ballhandlers, particularly Eric Monroe who had five turnovers.

In the first half, not too long after checking in, Anderson ripped Monroe as he was dribbling near the top of the key, and Monroe had to foul Anderson to avoid a breakaway dunk.

“We do that in practice on each other,” Likekele said of playing defense with Anderson. “Whenever we go out there against other point guards, they really don’t expect that pressure to be applied the whole game on them. That really helps us. We do, definitely, feed off each other.”

5. Chris Harris

Chris Harris might have not found his footing totally on the offensive end yet, but his minutes would suggest he is doing some things right.

Harris finished a game-best plus-eight in plus/minus Sunday despite being on the floor for only 10 minutes. Harris made the first field goal of his collegiate career against Yale, and he has just three points in his first 53 minutes. But it’s what he’s committed to doing on the defensive end that keeps him checking into the scorer’s table.

“The plus/minus, just like any stat, doesn’t tell you the whole story, but it gives you an idea of guys’ level of production,” Boynton said. “He’s totally committed to not worrying about his offensive game. We have guys who can make shots. His time will come. It’s just a matter of getting more comfortable with the guys he’s playing with, figuring out where his openings will be.

“But for right now, he feels pretty committed to helping our team on the defensive end, and because of that, he’s getting more opportunities.”

Harris didn’t get the ball thrown to him, but he has been on the floor when the Cowboys are in a scenario where they’ll be intentionally fouled. That takes a lot of trust from Boynton in one of his freshmen.