The Cowboys, without Parsa Fallah, will look to find a tough ‘W’ on the road against Cincinnati as their postseason hopes hang in the balance
CINCINNATI, OH — The Oklahoma State Cowboys (17-11, 5-10 Big 12) embark on a critical two-game road swing Saturday afternoon, tipping off against the Cincinnati Bearcats (15-13, 7-8 Big 12) at 1 p.m. CT inside Fifth Third Arena.
Broadcast on CBSSN with Jordan Kent and Michael O’Donnell on the call, this matchup marks OSU’s first visit to Cincinnati since a narrow 80-76 victory there on Feb. 21, 2024.
The Cowboys, fresh off snapping a five-game losing streak with a 91-84 overtime thriller against West Virginia, now face more adversity as they chase postseason dreams.
However, Oklahoma State suffered a huge blow against the WVU win, as senior forward Parsa Fallah suffered a season-ending ACL tear on the game’s final play while dunking to seal the victory.
Fallah, who poured in a team-high 18 points (six in overtime) that night, averaged 14.7 points and a team best 6.0 rebounds per game. His efficiency was elite, second in the Big 12 and top-25 nationally in field-goal percentage (.598), ranking fourth in OSU history for a single season.
With Fallah out, alongside season-ending injuries to forwards Robert Jennings II and Lefteris Mantzoukas, the Cowboys’ frontcourt is severely depleted. This setback will truly test the toughness of second-year head coach Steve Lutz and this Cowboys team, whose up-tempo style (11th nationally in adjusted tempo per KenPom) has produced 83.8 points per game overall (third in Big 12, 29th nationally).
Lutz’s squad is 29-3 when leading or tied at halftime under his tenure, but adapting without Fallah’s interior presence will reveal the depth of this team.
For OSU, a win over Cincinnati is imperative if they harbor any final shot at the NCAA Tournament. Currently on the bubble fringe, the Cowboys must capitalize on this opportunity and their remaining regular-season games, including Tuesday’s trip to UCF, to build momentum.
OSU is 14-1 when out-rebounding opponents and 13-3 when outscoring foes at the free-throw line (second in Big 12 at 18.0 makes per game). However, road woes loom large as they are just 1-6 in true away games, with scoring dipping to 69.9 points.
To defeat the Bearcats on their home floor, the Cowboys need to play at their pace, exploit free-throw opportunities, and generate fast scoring.
Defensively, they’ll have to contain Cincinnati’s stingy unit (13th in KenPom efficiency, holding opponents to 67.5 points on 41.5% shooting).
Emerging production from the thinned frontcourt, perhaps sophomore forward Andrija Vukovic (5.0 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 63% FG), who notched a career-high 12 points against WVU, will be crucial to counter Cincy’s size.
For OSU, senior guard Anthony Roy leads with 16.8 points per game, ranking fifth in the league in made threes (3.08) and fourth in three-point percentage (.399).
Guards Kanye Clary (9.4 ppg, 4.9 apg, 2.51 assist-to-turnover ratio) and Jaylen Curry (3.9 apg, team-high 37 steals) anchor the backcourt, with Clary elevating to 10.5 points and 5.3 assists in conference play.
Cincinnati, under fifth-year coach Wes Miller, is peaking with four wins in their last five, including a 16-point upset at Kansas.
Forward Baba Miller (13.8 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 33 blocks) ranks 13th nationally in rebounds with 11 double-doubles, while 7-2 center Moustapha Thiam (12.2 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 40 blocks) brings rim protection as the 2025 Big 12 blocks leader from his UCF days.
Guards Jizzle James (11.1 ppg) and Day Day Thomas (10.9 ppg, 3.5 apg) provide veteran scoring in their third seasons.
Series history favors OSU at 5-3 overall (2-1 in Big 12 era), with the Cowboys winning both regular-season meetings since Cincinnati joined the league but falling 87-68 in last year’s Big 12 Tournament rematch.
OSU is 3-0 in Stillwater but just 1-2 in Cincinnati, making Saturday’s task daunting yet winnable. A victory would push OSU to 18-11, exceeding last season’s win total.
With five players averaging at least 9.4 points and six double-figure scorers in the WVU win, the Cowboys have the depth to adapt, if they can overcome the road hex in Cincinnati.
Oklahoma State Player to Watch: Anthony Roy
The senior guard’s sharpshooting could be the difference maker on the road. With Fallah sidelined, Roy’s ability to stretch the floor and lead the offense (seven 20-point games) will be vital against Cincinnati’s top-tier defense.