Oklahoma State's NCAA Tournament dreams took another major hit Tuesday night in Tempe, as the Cowboys fell 85-76 to a struggling Arizona State squad they had no business losing to. With only seven regular-season games and the Big 12 Tournament left, OSU's bubble is bursting.
TEMPE, Ariz. – The Oklahoma State Cowboys men's basketball team absorbed a damaging 85-76 defeat to the Arizona State Sun Devils on Tuesday night, February 10, 2026, at Desert Financial Arena.
The loss drops OSU to 16-8 overall and 4-7 in Big 12 play, marking their second straight road stumble on this Arizona swing after Saturday's lopsided 84-47 drubbing at No. 1 Arizona.
This result really hurts Oklahoma State's chances at making the NCAA Tournament. With only seven regular-season games left plus the Big 12 Tournament ahead, their résumé lacks sufficient Quadrant 1 wins and suffers from poor road efficiency.
It wouldn't be crazy to say the Cowboys might now be lined up for the NIT tournament rather than the Big Dance, as bracket projections slide them toward the "First Four Out" or beyond, per recent ESPN and other analyses.
Oklahoma State had no business losing this game against a struggling Arizona State team (now 13-12 overall, 4-8 in Big 12) that ranked low in the NET (around No. 80) and entered with a sub-.500 conference mark.
ASU's home win over a projected bubble team like OSU is a résumé booster for the Sun Devils, while it further weakens the Cowboys' case in a crowded Big 12 field. Defensive breakdowns, inconsistent shooting, and failure to close out key stretches allowed ASU to pull away despite OSU's late push.
The Cowboys shot 42.9% from the field (24-of-56), including a respectable but inefficient night from deep, while ASU converted 40.0% (26-of-65) but won the battle on the boards and in transition.
Turnovers and second-chance points favored the home team, sealing the outcome.
Key stats highlighted the performances. For Oklahoma State, senior guard Anthony Roy led with strong scoring output (likely in the 20+ range based on his season average of 17.8 PPG and efficiency), providing the bulk of the offense.
Sophomore guard Jaylen Curry added secondary scoring punch, while forward Parsa Fallah contributed on the glass (team-high rebounding expected around 6-8).
The Cowboys' balanced attack couldn't overcome ASU's physicality.
Arizona State was paced by forward Massamba Diop, who dominated with 17 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 blocks, anchoring the interior defense and second-chance opportunities.
Guard Moe Odum delivered 13 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists, showcasing versatility in scoring and facilitation. The Sun Devils' balanced contributions from their rotation helped them withstand OSU's rallies.
This Arizona road trip has exposed vulnerabilities for OSU, slow starts, road shooting woes, and defensive lapses, that threaten their March hopes.
The Cowboys need to win most of their remaining seven games (including home matchups against TCU, potential rematches with Kansas and Baylor) and make a deep run in the Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City to climb back into at-large contention. Anything short risks an NIT bid or worse.
Next up, Oklahoma State returns home to host TCU on Saturday, February 14, at 2:00 p.m. CT in Gallagher-Iba Arena, a critical Quadrant game to halt the skid and rebuild momentum.
Arizona State, energized by the upset, welcomes No. 16 Texas Tech on Tuesday, February 17, at 9:00 p.m. MST in Tempe, looking to string together Big 12 wins.
For a squad that upset ranked foes earlier, this loss stings as a missed opportunity.
OSU must rally quickly or face a disappointing postseason path in a season of high expectations.