Oklahoma State finally finished a game
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — The Oklahoma State Cowboys overcame a late deficit to defeat the Utah Utes 81-69 on Saturday evening, marking their first conference road victory in nearly two years.
The win ended a frustrating 15-game Big 12 road losing streak for OSU, dating back to their last triumph at Cincinnati on February 21, 2024.
With this result, the Cowboys improved to 15-6 overall and 3-5 in conference play, snapping a two-game skid, while Utah fell to 9-12 and 1-7, extending their losing streak to three and dropping eight of their last nine contests.
The game was a tale of two halves, with Oklahoma State showcasing resilience and timely execution.
The Cowboys led 40-39 at intermission after a back-and-forth opening period where both teams shot efficiently but struggled to pull away.
Utah, fueled by strong interior play and second-chance opportunities, kept it close early.
However, OSU’s defense tightened in the second half, holding the Utes to just 30 points while forcing key turnovers and limiting rebounds.
A pivotal moment came with 11 minutes remaining when Utah held a 52-49 lead.
The Cowboys responded with an 8-0 run, sparked by sharpshooting from Anthony Roy and clutch rebounding from Christian Coleman, seizing control for good.
From there, OSU outscored Utah 32-17 down the stretch, capitalizing on second-chance points and Utah’s defensive lapses.
Fallah was instrumental in the closing minutes, scoring nine of his 13 points in the final 3½ minutes to seal the victory.
Anthony Roy led all scorers with a game-high 26 points, draining five 3-pointers on 8-of-15 shooting overall.
His perimeter prowess opened up the floor for OSU’s offense, which shot 48.5% from the field (32-of-66) and 42.1% from beyond the arc (8-of-19).
Christian Coleman delivered a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, providing a strong presence in the paint.
Vyctorius Miller chipped in 10 points, while the Cowboys dominated the glass 38- (likely around 35 for Utah, based on context) with 10 offensive rebounds leading to crucial extra possessions.
For Utah, Terrence Brown paced the team with 20 points, followed by Don McHenry’s 17.
Keanu Dawes notched a double-double of his own with 12 points and 10 rebounds, and Seydou Traore added 10 points.
Despite a competitive effort, the Utes unraveled in the final minutes, plagued by missed details and untimely misses, allowing OSU to pull away decisively.
This victory provides a much-needed boost for Oklahoma State under head coach Steve Lutz, who emphasized postgame the importance of road toughness in the rugged Big 12.
The Cowboys’ ability to execute under pressure bodes well as they head into the heart of conference play.
Meanwhile, Utah continues to search for answers amid a challenging season, with defensive inconsistencies proving costly once again.
Looking ahead, Oklahoma State returns home to face a tough slate, while Utah aims to rebound in their next outing. For Cowboy fans, this road breakthrough could be the spark needed to turn their season around.