Instacap: Of Course, OSU Takes Down No. 6 Texas Tech 79-71 at Home

Throw out the previous excuses, I don’t want to hear it. On a weeknight game, at 6 p.m., with inclement weather and against the No. 6-ranked team in the country, Oklahoma State won a home game — somewhat handily.

Kendall Smith started out hot going 4 of 5 from the field (without a 3-point attempt) with four assists to one turnover. He led the Cowboys to a 57-percent shooting first half where the Cowboys hung with the Red Raiders despite a couple of scoring droughts that paused its momentum going into the break.

The Cowboys had no answer for Zhaire Smith who started 6 for 6 from the field and ended up with 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting. But Tech was really hampered by the injury to Keenan Evans who scored just 2 points in 25 minutes and was obviously slowed down with the toe injury he suffered against Baylor on Saturday.

The Cowboys didn’t grab an offensive rebound after halftime until the 11:40 mark of the final frame. That’s because they couldn’t miss. Oklahoma State turned a 1-point halftime deficit into a 14-point lead mostly be making its first nine shots, including its first six 3-pointers.

Tech predictably stormed back while OSU came back to Earth but the Pokes were able to hold off of Raiders to earn yet another signature win for the year.

It was over when

Kendall Smith made four-straight free throws to put the Cowboys out of reach of the Red Raiders. It was a fouling contest after that.

Player of the game

Lindy Waters went 6 for 6 from the field (4 for 4 from 3) for 18 points, but… it has to got to Kendall Smith who scored 20 points on 12 shots and six assists to just one turnover. Smith has not always showed up when we wanted him but he has showed up in the Cowboys’ biggest games.

Stat you should know

Oklahoma State just made shots, especially from the perimeter. The Cowboys reached 50 percent from deep for just the second time this season making 11 of 22 shots. And most of those were good, open shots. OSU has attempted at least 22 3s in 15 of 28 games and often they’ve been forced but on Wednesday night in a warm empty arena, I can’t remember one that was.

What’s next

The Cowboys head to Texas on Saturday at 1 p.m. to go for their first sweep of a Big 12 team for the season.