No March Madness for the Pokes, but second seed in the NIT isn’t a bad consolation as they’ll face Davidson in round one inside of Gallagher-Iba Arena on Tuesday evening
Davidson @ Oklahoma State! Who You Got?
STILLWATER, Okla. — The Oklahoma State Cowboys men’s basketball team is gearing up for a postseason encore at Gallagher-Iba Arena.
On Tuesday evening, March 17, OSU will host the Davidson Wildcats in the first round of the 2026 National Invitation Tournament, tipping off at 7:00PM CST. This matchup provides a silver lining for the Cowboys’ seniors, who get another chance to suit up and play in front of the home crowd before their collegiate careers conclude.
For OSU, the path to the NIT was all but inevitable. After a challenging season in the rugged Big 12 Conference, where they finished 19-14 overall and 6-12 in league play, the Cowboys fell short of the NCAA Tournament bubble.
It was a foregone conclusion they wouldn’t crack the 68-team field, though in a hypothetical expansion to 76 teams, OSU likely would have earned a spot in one of the play-in games in Dayton. Instead, they’ll embrace the NIT as a No. 2 seed in the Tulsa Region, looking to build momentum and extend their campaign.
This marks the first-ever meeting between Oklahoma State and Davidson, adding an element of unpredictability to the game.
The Cowboys bring a quick offense to the floor, averaging 84.3 points per game (22nd nationally), but their defense has been poor as of late, allowing 82.9 points (352nd).
Davidson, conversely, plays a more controlled style, scoring 71.7 points while holding opponents to 67.4 (33rd in defensive efficiency).
The game could hinge on tempo. If OSU forces a fast-paced shootout, their scoring might overwhelm the Wildcats. But if Davidson slows things down and exploits the Cowboys’ defensive lapses with sharp perimeter shooting (they hit 40.9% from three as a team) the visitors could pull off an upset. Expect a clash of styles, with OSU’s athleticism testing Davidson’s discipline.
For Oklahoma State, guard Anthony Roy leads the charge with 17.0 points per game, providing explosive scoring from the wing. Guard Kanye Clary dishes out 4.7 assists to orchestrate the offense and Christian Coleman contributes 0.8 blocks per game, anchoring the interior defense.
Davidson counters with a balanced attack led by guard Roberts Blūms, who averages around 12 points and shoots efficiently from deep. Guard Parker Friedrichsen brings 10.6 points and 40.9% three-point accuracy, while senior forward Sean Logan provides rebounding and interior presence with his 6-foot-10 frame.
The Wildcats’ 20-13 record (10-8 in the Atlantic 10) reflects their strength, but they’ll need to navigate OSU’s home-court advantage, where the Cowboys boast a strong record.
Should Oklahoma State advance past Davidson, they’ll face the winner of the Wichita State-Wyoming matchup in the second round, scheduled for March 21 or 22.
That game would likely be hosted by the higher seed, potentially at Gallagher-Iba if OSU prevails. Further progression could lead to a quarterfinal clash on March 24 or 25 against the top-seeded Tulsa or another regional foe, again at the higher seed’s venue. The NIT’s later rounds shift to a neutral site for the semifinals and final.
This isn’t uncharted territory for the Cowboys. Last season, in the 2025 NIT, OSU reached the quarterfinals, defeating Wichita State 89-79 in the first round before falling 61-59 to North Texas in a heartbreaking finish at home. Under second-year head coach Steve Lutz, the team aims to surpass that mark and make a deeper run.
As Tuesday’s tip approaches, keep an eye on Anthony Roy. The dynamic scorer has been OSU’s go-to option all season, and his ability to create shots in crunch time could be the difference in extending the Cowboys’ postseason journey.