Oklahoma State Men’s Basketball will look to avenge themselves against UCF on Tuesday after being blown out by Texas Tech in their last game
STILLWATER, OK —
Oklahoma State Men’s College Basketball returns to Gallagher-Iba Arena for their 15th game of the season on Tuesday evening, January 6th, welcoming the No. 25 UCF Knights in a pivotal Big 12 matchup.
Oklahoma State Cowboys (12-2, 0-1 Big 12) - Head Coach: Steve Lutz (Second Year at Oklahoma State – 29-20)
vs.
UCF Knights
(12-1, 1-0 Big 12) - Head Coach: Johnny Dawkins (10th Year at UCF – 180-121)
How To Watch:
ESPN+
Time: 7:00 PM CT
Radio:
Cowboy Radio Network (Dave Hunziker & John Holcomb)
Series:
Oklahoma State holds a 1-4 record in the last five meetings with UCF, with the series dating back to November 18, 2022. The Cowboys’ sole victory in that span came on February 19, 2025, with a 104-95 win in Stillwater, their largest margin against the Knights.
UCF has dominated recently, including an 83-70 triumph on March 5, 2025, in Orlando, where Darius Johnson exploded for a career-high 36 points.
Overall, the Knights lead the all-time series 3-1, with OSU’s home edge providing hope for a turnaround.
This Big 12 contest offers Oklahoma State a critical opportunity to even their conference record and climb back into the league race after a rocky start.
The Cowboys are reeling from a lopsided 102-80 defeat to No. 15 Texas Tech on January 3rd in Lubbock, marking their first Big 12 loss and dropping them to 0-1 in conference play. In that game, OSU struggled defensively, allowing Texas Tech to shoot efficiently while committing turnovers that fueled a Red Raider onslaught.
JT Toppin and Chance Anderson each posted double-doubles for Tech, leading to a program-record-tying 17 three-pointers.
Anthony Roy paced the Cowboys with points in the loss, but the team’s “selfish offense,” as described by analysts, hindered any comeback. Prior to the setback, OSU had won three straight, including victories over Sam Houston and Grand Canyon.
Despite the injuries plaguing the squad, Oklahoma State has maintained offensive firepower, averaging 90.4 points per game (18th nationally) with a fast-paced style ranking in the top 10 for adjusted tempo per KenPom.
Forward Robert Jennings II remains out for the season with a hip injury, opting for a medical redshirt. Center Parsa Fallah has been managing a back issue but contributed in recent games, averaging 12.8 points and 6.1 rebounds when available.
The bench provides depth, leading the Big 12 with 37.1 points per game. Five players score in double figures: Anthony Roy (17.7 ppg), Vyctorius Miller (15.9 ppg, 48% from three), Jaylen Curry (13.7 ppg, 5.2 apg), Parsa Fallah (12.8 ppg), and Kanye Clary (11.8 ppg, 4.8 apg).
OSU is undefeated at home (9-0), averaging 92.5 points in Gallagher-Iba, and holds a 25-0 record under Lutz when scoring 80 or more.
Their second-half surges continue, with 53% shooting after halftime.
No. 25 UCF enters with momentum, boasting a 12-1 record and a 1-0 Big 12 start after a recent win streak that includes victories over Florida A&M and Texas A&M.
Picked mid-tier in the preseason poll, the Knights have exceeded expectations under Dawkins, averaging 87.8 points offensively while holding opponents to 74.9.
Guard Roddy Kugel leads scoring at 14.1 ppg, with forward Jamichael Stillwell dominating the boards at 8.7 rpg.
Guards like Darius Johnson and Chris Johnson add perimeter threats, shooting 46.9% from the field as a team but struggling at 32.2% from deep.
On the road, UCF is 3-1 this season, but they’ll face a hostile environment against OSU’s rebounding edge (+6.3 per game).
A win would propel Oklahoma State to 13-2, tying their best start in recent years, and snap the skid against UCF.
Expect the Cowboys to emphasize pace, ball movement, and interior defense to contain Stillwell while exploiting Kugel’s matchups. OSU must limit turnovers and capitalize on home energy to rebound strongly.
Cowboy Player to Watch:
Guard Anthony Roy
As the leading scorer at 17.7 ppg, Roy’s versatility and efficiency (efficient from beyond the arc) make him key in bouncing back. Against Texas Tech, he showed resilience; expect him to attack UCF’s defense aggressively.