Instant Recap: Oklahoma State Stuns No. 19 BYU 93-83

Wins don’t come easy in the Big 12, and they haven’t come easy for Oklahoma State, but the Cowboys put on a show for the GIA faithful on Saturday, and a pair of freshmen led the way.

Oklahoma State defeated No. 19 BYU 93-83, scoring a season-high in Big 12 play, breaking a two-game skid but winning its third straight at home. The Cougars came in having won four of five.

Jamyron Keller drained a 3-pointer on OSU’s first possession and the Cowboys never trailed the rest of the way. That sentence could serve as a condensed but effective recap.

In his first career start, the freshman was perfect from the floor making all eight shots, including four 3-pointers. He was also 2-2 from the stripe. Keller lead all scorers with a career-high 22.

.@JamyronKeller with the 3⃣ to open the game 💪 pic.twitter.com/GLsnTRsSVN

— OSU Cowboy Basketball (@OSUMBB) February 17, 2024

Not to be overlooked, fellow freshman Brandon Garrison scored 21 points on 7-of-8 shooting and grabbed five rebounds. Quion Williams scored 15, Javon Small scored 14 and John-Michael Wright added 13.

After keeping the Cougars at arm’s length for most of the first half, the Pokes went into halftime on an 8-0 run to take a 49-34 lead into the break. That was the Cowboys’ highest-scoring first half in conference play this year.

The Cowboys shot 61% from the field in the first half and 60% from deep (8-of-14). The Cougars came in leading the league (second in the nation) with 11.6 made 3-pointers per game. They went just 2-for-16 from deep in the first half.

But unlike other productive first halves we’ve seen this season, the Cowboys’ offensive proficiency continued past the intermission with OSU making six of its first nine shots in the second half while holding BYU to an 0-for-9 start.

But the Cougars weren’t going to go away without a fight. BYU went on a 9-0 run, taking advantage down low when Garrison was on the bench. But the Cowboys were able to hold their ground and held their ground from that point on. BYU pulled within single digits just once in the second half. But that lasted all of 24 seconds when you know who went hard to the rim.

AND 1 😤@JamyronKeller can’t be stopped! pic.twitter.com/R2RlwxpXBv

— OSU Cowboy Basketball (@OSUMBB) February 17, 2024

The Cowboys turned in season highs in scoring (93), field-goal percentage (60%) and shot 50% from 3-point range, their best in league play.

Next Up

The Cowboys head to Cincinnati to try their hot hands against the Bearcats at 6 p.m. Wednesday.