Five Thoughts on OSU’s 71-49 Loss to OU

BOX SCORE

Oklahoma State kept the game interesting for much of the first half on Wednesday evening, but the Sooners ran away late and closed out nicely to take down the Cowboys, 71-49. It wasn’t pretty. Here’s my five thoughts from the game:

1. Jeff Newberry played his heart out

Newberry closed with a career high five three-pointers to finish with 19 on the night. He showed a little range and showed off the hops that made him a big-time junior college recruit just a year ago. He had a couple rebounds and threw in some steals, but his effort was tremendous. You could tell he wanted to go out his last Bedlam game in style.

Newberry defines ‘eyes above the rim!’ ✈️ https://t.co/lTXqcjyV0E

— Cowboy Basketball (@OSUMBB) February 25, 2016

2. The gameplan played beautifully…in the first half

Ford essentially played screwball the first half, taking the shot clock down to the wire on nearly every possession. They went into the break down only 3, but it got out of control in a hurry in the second with too many turnovers and a horrendous shooting night. It doesn’t help when one of your sharpshooters is sitting at home sick, either. It wasn’t so much they didn’t make adjustments, it was that OU simply sped the game up and played their style in the second half. The Sooners are ranked No. 3 for a reason.

3. Turnovers are the difference

OU turnovers: 12

OSU turnovers: 19

Oklahoma State needed to play a near perfect game to keep it close, but 19 turnovers won’t win many basketball games. Losing the turnover battle on the road in this league is a death sentence. Turnovers Wednesday cost the Cowboys too many easy points in transition given up, and momentum that could have been halted had they not played as sloppy as they did in the second half. And it’s been the achilles heel of this team in the second half all year.

4. Ryan Spangler was everything

Real tears came down my face writing that headline. Spangler has struggled the entire season shooting and, naturally, came out guns ablazing in Bedlam and finished with a career high 26, including 4-of-6 from three-point land. Three-pointer off the backboard from top of the key? No problem. He finished with 14 rebounds and a couple blocks to cap off an incredible night in which the “Cowpokes” [as ESPN calls us], couldn’t stop him. He was everything the Sooners needed, when Buddy Hield had an “off night” with only 17.

5. Three-point shooting is abysmal

I’m sure this stat would be different if we had Forte or Evans or even Carroll in the lineup, but the Cowboys finished the game 7-of-24 from three (29%). It’s not a horrendous night, in fact they average right around 34% on the season, but when you compare what the Sooners finished with (46%), it doesn’t quite match up.

Next up: OSU vs. West Virginia at 5:00 Saturday, Feb. 27