Parsa Fallah a Game-Time Decision against Kansas City, Freshman Ben Ahmed Getting Closer to Debut

STILLWATER — If Parsa Fallah’s impact for the Cowboys wasn’t evident before Saturday’s Bedlam game, it certainly is now.

Fallah tried to tough out a back injury but managed to play just 10 first-half minutes before Oklahoma State lost its first game of the season, falling 85-76 to OU.

Entering that Bedlam battle, Fallah had his best two offensive outputs of the season. He had 24 points and seven boards against Sam Houston before contributing 25 points and six rebounds against Grand Canyon.

“He’s making progress,” OSU coach Steve Lutz said Tuesday. “He’s making progress. He did not practice (Monday) or (Tuesday). We’ll see about (Wednesday) and will probably be a game-time decision for UMKC. But he’s battling through.”

The Cowboys have had to battle a handful of early season injuries. For the most part, Lutz has waited to get guys as healthy as they could be before returning to game action, like with Anthony Roy’s groin injury to start the season.

With games against Kansas City, Cal State-Fullerton and Bethune Cookman before Big 12 Play starts Jan. 3, that could be the case with Fallah.

“It’s always most important that they’re healthy,” Lutz said. “There’s no sense in ever putting someone out on the floor that’s not healthy. We won’t do that, so we’re gonna make sure that Parsa’s healthy. We want Parsa to play because obviously he’s a big component to our success, but at the same time, we’ve gotta make sure that he’s healthy. Big 12 play starts on Jan. (3). That’s what’s most important.”

Fallah isn’t the only OSU big man on the mend.

Four-star freshman Ben Ahmed hasn’t played this season after a preseason surgery to put a plate in his foot, but it sounds like his college debut isn’t far off.

“Hopefully we’ll get Ben back,” Lutz said. “He might play on Thursday. He might play on Sunday. So, that would be good. We’d have another big body in the post. And if not, we’ll go with whoever is there.”

Ahmed was the No. 113 player in the 247Sports Composite ranking for the 2025 class.

Listed at 6-foot-10, 275 pounds with a 7-foot-3 wingspan, Ahmed hails from Kogi State, Nigeria but played prep ball in the United States at Putnam Science Academy in Connecticut. He finished as the program’s all-time leader in points and rebounds.

“Physicality, toughness, just every single play Ben goes 100%,” OSU director of player development Keiton Page said. “Sometimes he goes 110% and it gets a little out of control, but it’s one thing you can count on with Ben is he’s gonna give it 100% on every play on both ends of the floor. Just a high motor, winner, tough player.”

Up Next

Opponent: Kansas City
Time: 7 p.m. Thursday
Location: Gallagher-Iba Arena
Watch: ESPN+