The number one team in country showed why they’re the number one team in the country - Arizona obliterates Oklahoma State on Saturday afternoon
TUCSON, Arizona — If you’re an Oklahoma State Cowboys fan and sat through the full 40 minutes of the Arizona - Oklahoma State Men’s basketball matchup, I commend your commitment to “Loyal & True”.
In a lopsided affair at McKale Center on Saturday afternoon, February 7, the top-ranked Arizona Wildcats extended their unbeaten streak with an emphatic 84-47 victory over the Oklahoma State Cowboys.
The Wildcats’ suffocating defense held Oklahoma State to just 24.6% shooting from the field, turning what could have been a competitive Big 12 matchup into a rout.
Arizona improved to 23-0 overall and 10-0 in conference play, while Oklahoma State dropped to 16-7 and 4-6 in the Big 12.
Arizona jumped out to a commanding 40-22 lead at halftime, limiting the Cowboys to 6-of-29 shooting (20.7%) in the opening period.
The Wildcats’ efficiency shone through, as they shot 51.6% overall (33-of-64) and dominated the glass with a 56-35 rebounding edge, including 12 offensive boards that led to 16 second-chance points.
Arizona also forced 12 turnovers while committing the same number, but their 17 assists flexed crisp ball movement.
Leading the charge for Arizona was freshman guard Brayden Burries, who scored a game-high 15 points on 7-of-11 shooting, adding eight rebounds and a steal.
Point guard Jaden Bradley contributed 13 points, four assists, and two steals.
Forward Koa Peat added 11 points, five rebounds, and three assists, while center Motiejus Krivas chipped in 10 points and nine rebounds despite fouling out late.
Off the bench, Anthony Dell’Orso provided a spark with 11 points on 4-of-6 shooting, and Tobe Awaka dominated inside with eight points and 12 rebounds, including three blocks.
The Wildcats’ attack saw seven players score at least seven points, though they struggled from beyond the arc (2-of-14).
For Oklahoma State, the offensive struggles were evident across the board.
Guard Anthony Roy led the Cowboys with 10 points, all from three-pointers (3-of-10 from deep), along with four rebounds.
Forward Parsa Fallah added eight points and five rebounds, while Kanye Clary scored seven points with three assists.
Christian Coleman contributed six points, five rebounds, and two blocks, but shot just 3-of-8.
Vyctorious Miller rounded out the starters with five points, though he went 1-of-10 from the field. Bench contributions were minimal, with Benjamin Ahmed scoring four points and grabbing five rebounds.
The Cowboys’ 6-of-28 three-point shooting (21.4%) and 11-of-23 free throws (47.8%) compounded their woes, as they managed only 10 assists against six steals.
This game could easily be viewed as a hangover performance for Oklahoma State, coming just days after their thrilling 99-92 upset of No. 16 BYU earlier in the week.
In that victory, the Cowboys exploded for 58 points in the second half alone, nearly reaching triple digits.
Facing the nation’s top team on the road, however, their energy appeared sapped, leading to an extremely laughable effort.
Pre-game odds reflected the mismatch though. Oklahoma State’s chances of winning were slim, with Arizona favored by 19.5 points.
The Cowboys should wipe this one from memory and avoid letting it dent team morale. After all, they entered the contest as underdogs against an unbeaten juggernaut, and the blowout doesn’t erase their earlier successes.
Despite the setback, Oklahoma State has plenty to play for. Sitting at 4-6 in the Big 12, a strong finish could still secure an NCAA Tournament berth. With key contributors like Roy and Clary, the Cowboys have the talent to string together wins and climb the standings.
On the flip side, Arizona’s 23-0 start marks the best in Big 12 history, surpassing Kansas’ 22-0 mark from 1996-97.
It’s also a new school record for the Wildcats, who continue to thrive under coach Tommy Lloyd with elite defense and freshman phenoms leading the way.
Looking ahead, Arizona heads to Lawrence to face Kansas on February 9 at 7:00 PM MST in Allen Fieldhouse.
Oklahoma State travels to Tempe to take on Arizona State on February 10 at 8:00 PM in Desert Financial Arena.