Inside the Numbers: Some Disturbing Stats from OSU’s Loss to Kansas

Oklahoma State trailed from tip to termination on Big Monday, falling to Kansas at home 65-50. Aside from an eight-minute stretch to end the first half, the Cowboys were outmatched by a shorthanded Jayhawks squad with seven scholarship players, while its best to found themselves in foul trouble.

The Rock Chalk crew moved to 17-3 and 6-1 in league play while the Cowboys fall to .500 at 10-10 (0-7 in conference).

Let’s take a look at the Pokes’ seventh Big 12 loss in as many tries by the numbers that mattered most, as ugly as they are.

Oklahoma State Leaders

Points: Cameron McGriff 18
Rebounds: Cameron McGriff and Kalib Boone 8
Assists: Lindy Waters 3

Kansas Leaders

Points: Christian Braun 16
Rebounds: Christian Braun 9
Assists: Marcus Garrett 9

Braun stepped up big time in his first career start. When Udoka Azubuike and Devon Dotson each picked up a couple of first half fouls, the true freshman provided with scoring punch, draining four 3-pointers and grabbing a career-high nine rebounds. I might still be stuck in the moment, but Mike Boytnon would have loved to have a Christian Braun waiting on his bench.

This was the first game this season that Azubuike was held to less than nine points that the Jayhawks won. His other three account for all KU losses on the year. Add in the fact that he and leading scorer Devon Dotson spent a good chunk of time on the bench, especially early — while KU was already shorthanded — tell the story of an OSU squad that didn’t capitalize on its opportunities. Or worse yet, was unable to.

The 55.1-percent field goal percentage and 22 assists (both season highs) against Texas A&M were a distant memory two days later. The Cowboys shot a season-low 28 percent from the field, an abysmal 11 percent from 3 and only managed nine assists.

Aside from McGriff, the Cowboys’ other top 5 scorers, Lindy Waters, Isaac Likekele, Yor Anei and Thomas Dziagwa combined to go just 7-of-29 from the field and 0-of-8 from 3. This team doesn’t look equipped to take advantage of these type of opportunities.

Other Notes

• Cameron McGriff led the Cowboys in scoring and nearly finished with a double-double with 18 points and eight rebounds.

• McGriff has started 65 consecutive games for the Cowboys, which is the 37th longest active streak in college basketball. Only Texas’ Matt Coleman and TCU’s Desmond Bane have longer starting streaks in the Big 12.

• Kalib Boone grabbed a career-high eight rebounds tonight.

• Isaac Likekele finished with 10 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals.

• Yor Anei has blocked a shot in 45 of his 52 career games. Anei finished with one block tonight.

• Kansas jumped out to a 12-2 run to open the game with 13:17 remaining in the first half. The Jayhawks’ greatest lead of the first half came at the 7:55 mark, when Kansas led OSU 24-7. Oklahoma State went on a 15-0 run over a 5:04 stretch to cut the Kansas lead to just two, trailing 24-22 with 2:48 remaining in the half.

• The Jayhawks went on a 5-of-5 shooting stretch, fueling an 11-0 run and a 43-28 lead with 14:06 remaining in the game. Kansas would lead OSU by as much as 27 when Kansas led Oklahoma State 61-34 with 6:17 remaining. The Cowboys would cut the Jayhawk lead to 15 by the end of the game.

• OSU has made at least one 3-point shot in 635 consecutive games dating back to Jan. 13, 2001, which is the 24th longest current streak in college basketball.

• Oklahoma State has held 13 of its 21 opponents to under 40.4% shooting this season.

• OSU has forced at least 10 turnovers 75 times under Mike Boynton, and is 42-32 in those games.

• Oklahoma State is 27-8 when holding its opponent under 40 percent shooting under Boynton.

• Oklahoma State’s all-time record against Kansas is now 59-116, but the Cowboys have won four of the last seven meetings in Stillwater.

• The Cowboys edged the Jayhawks in rebounds 41-40 on Monday night.

• OSU finished with a 24-16 advantage in points in the paint tonight.

• Oklahoma State’s all-time record against members of the Big 12 Conference 453-527.

Big-Picture Notes

• The last time the Cowboys started 0-7 in conference play was during the 1971-72 season when OSU started 0-9 in conference play.

• The last time Oklahoma State had a losing streak of seven or more games was during the 2013-14 season. OSU lost seven games before snapping the streak, beating Texas Tech in Stillwater, 84-62.