Once upon a hoops dream in Stillwater, as Oklahoma State impressed with a 12-1 start. But now? Five straight losses have become the rude early morning dream shattering alarm clock - time to wake up, Pokes
BOULDER, Colorado — In a Saturday afternoon clash at the CU Events Center in Boulder, Colorado, the Oklahoma State Cowboys suffered a disheartening 83-69 loss to the Colorado Buffaloes, dropping their record to 16-11 overall and 4-10 in Big 12 play.
This loss all but seals the Cowboys’ fate outside the NCAA Tournament, unless they orchestrate a helluva run through the Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City come early March.
With just a few regular season games left, OSU’s postseason aspirations now hinge on an improbable conference title, a tall order given their recent form.
The game started competitively, but Colorado built a solid lead by halftime, going into the break up 42-34.
Oklahoma State showed signs of life late in the first half, cutting a double digit deficit with buckets from Vyctorius Miller and Christian Coleman.
The momentum carried briefly into the second half, where the Cowboys came within eight points midway through, fueled by Miller’s three ball and some defensive stops that forced Colorado turnovers.
However, the Buffaloes responded with a surge, hitting threes and capitalizing on OSU’s miscues to pull away for good.
Colorado’s efficient shooting proved too much, as they outscored the Cowboys 41-35 in the second half to secure the victory.
Statistically, Colorado dominated in several areas. The Buffaloes shot 48% from the field (29-61) and 41% from beyond the arc (11-27), while holding OSU to just 38% overall (23-61) and a dismal 22% on threes (5-23).
Colorado also dished out 20 assists compared to OSU’s eight. Rebounding was close, with OSU edging out 39-36, but the Cowboys’ 15 turnovers led to 18 points for Colorado, while OSU managed only 12 points off 12 Buffaloes turnovers. Colorado added 11 steals to disrupt OSU’s rhythm.
For the Cowboys, Parsa Fallah led with 14 points on 4-9 shooting, adding six free throws despite foul trouble.
Vyctorius Miller and Christian Coleman each contributed 11 points, with Coleman grabbing nine rebounds and two blocks. Kanye Clary added eight points efficiently (2-2 FG), but the team lacked depth scoring, with no other player reaching double figures. Andrija Vukovic chipped in seven points and seven rebounds off the bench.
On the Colorado side, Bangot Dak paced the Buffaloes with 17 points and seven rebounds, including a three-pointer and strong interior play.
Barrington Hargress was the engine, scoring 16 points while dishing eight assists and grabbing four rebounds.
Michaeli provided a spark with 12 points on efficient 5-8 shooting, and Sebastian Rancik hauled in 10 rebounds to go with seven points.
Isaiah Johnson and Ian Inman added nine and eight points, respectively, as Colorado’s depth shined at home.
This setback isn’t surprising as Oklahoma State’s persistent road woes under head coach Steve Lutz continue.
In his two seasons at the helm, the Cowboys have struggled mightily away from Gallagher-Iba Arena, posting a combined road record of just 4-16 in Big 12 games.
This season alone, OSU is 1-7 on the road, contrasting sharply with their impressive 13-4 home mark. The team’s poor performance outside Stillwater, marked by defensive falters and inefficient offense, has been a recurring theme under Lutz, sadly turning potential upsets into routine head scratching L’s.
What makes this slide more frustrating is the Cowboys’ hot start to the 2025-26 campaign.
OSU burst out to a 12-1 record, raising hopes of sustained growth and momentum in Stillwater after years of inconsistency. Victories over solid non-conference foes like Texas A&M and South Florida suggested a turnaround under Lutz, but the early promise has evaporated amid the tough Big 12 slate, where they’ve lost 10 of 14.
Now, that fast start feels like a false promise, leaving those who routinely watch questioning the program’s direction.
Should the Cowboys fail to win the Big 12 Tournament, a long shot given their seeding, they’ll likely settle for the NIT, assuming their overall record holds above .500.
The NIT offers a chance for postseason experience, potentially on the road or at neutral sites, but it’s a far cry from March Madness, especially considering how the Cowboys’ season started.
OSU could host early rounds if selected, but their resume might relegate them to lower tier matchups.
Looking ahead, Oklahoma State returns home to face West Virginia on Tuesday, February 24, at 5:00 PM CT on CBSSN, seeking to snap a five-game skid.
Colorado, now 15-12 and 5-9 in conference, hosts Kansas State on Wednesday, February 25, at 6:00 PM CT on FS1, aiming to build on their third straight home win.