Oklahoma State Falls to Wisconsin in Men's Basketball Exhibition as Three-Point Shooting Proves Decisive

Oklahoma State men's basketball got an early look at its new-look roster Tuesday night, falling 82-65 to Wisconsin in an exhibition matchup.

While the result does not count toward either team's regular-season record, the game offered an opportunity for head coach Steve Lutz to evaluate his team before the season officially begins.

The biggest difference on the stat sheet was three-point shooting. Wisconsin connected on 18 of its 41 attempts from beyond the arc, shooting 43.9%, while Oklahoma State made just five of 24 attempts for 20.8%.The Badgers outscored the Cowboys 54-15 from three-point range, a 39-point advantage that proved difficult to overcome.

Julius Halaifonua led Oklahoma State with 16 points, shooting an efficient 5-of-7 from the field and making all five of his free-throw attempts. He also collected five rebounds in 25 minutes.

Jacob Walker added 12 points and four assists, knocking down two of Oklahoma State's five three-pointers. Anthony Felesi and Kashie Natt each finished with 10 points.

Natt contributed eight rebounds and four assists despite struggling from the field, shooting 1-of-7. He made seven of eight free throws.

The Cowboys shot 40% overall and 80% from the free-throw line, making 16 of 20 attempts. Oklahoma State also held a slight rebounding advantage, 38-36, and scored 24 points in the paint compared with Wisconsin's 12.

Wisconsin's offense relied heavily on its outside shooting, with three-pointers accounting for 54 of the Badgers' 82 points.

Owen Foxwell led Wisconsin with 19 points, shooting 5-of-10 from the field and a perfect 3-of-3 from beyond the arc. Nolan Winter and Eian Elmer added 10 and 11 points, respectively, combining to make six more three-pointers.

The Badgers also received 39 points from their bench compared with Oklahoma State's 14. Despite shooting just 40.7% overall, Wisconsin's efficiency from long range helped offset Oklahoma State's advantage in interior scoring.

For Oklahoma State, the exhibition highlighted several areas to evaluate before the regular season.

The Cowboys found success attacking inside, scoring 34 points on two-point field goals and converting 16 free throws. However, the perimeter shooting struggles limited their offensive production.

Oklahoma State also committed 18 turnovers, compared with Wisconsin's 15, while recording just nine assists on 22 made field goals. The Cowboys' 38 rebounds and 24 points in the paint were encouraging statistical signs, but Wisconsin's ability to generate and convert outside shots created a significant scoring disparity.

Lutz emphasized defense as a major priority during last week's Big 12 Basketball Media Day, and Tuesday's result provided another reminder of the importance of defending the perimeter.

The exhibition does not affect Oklahoma State's record, but it provides an early statistical measuring stick as the Cowboys continue preparing for the regular season.

For Lutz and his staff, the focus now shifts toward improving offensive efficiency, limiting turnovers and finding greater consistency on the defensive end before the games begin to count.