Oklahoma State’s gritty 92-83 upset over Colorado ignites NCAA dreams — Can they conquer TCU next in a must-win Big 12 run?
KANSAS CITY, MO — In a first-round matchup at the Big 12 Tournament, the No. 14 seed Oklahoma State Cowboys delivered a gritty 92-83 victory over the No. 11 seed Colorado Buffaloes on Tuesday night in Kansas City.
This win not only propelled OSU to 19-13 overall (6-12 Big 12) but also kept their flickering NCAA Tournament dreams alive. With a bubble resume that has teetered on the edge all season, the Cowboys are in a last-ditch effort to make a statement run, likely needing to win out in the tournament to punch their ticket to March Madness.
The game was a back-and-forth battle, flipping the script from their earlier regular-season meeting in Boulder where Colorado dominated.
OSU edged out a slim 41-40 halftime lead after Colorado clawed back late in the first half. The second half saw the Buffaloes repeatedly charge back from deficits, with Elijah Malone bullying inside and Isaiah Johnson hitting runners. But the Cowboys had answers every time, thanks to standout performances from their key players.
Anthony Roy led the charge with 24 points, including 10-of-12 from the free-throw line, flexing his scoring ability and clutch gene. Christian Coleman was a force on the boards, posting a double-double with 17 points and 14 rebounds, while Jaylen Curry chipped in 15 points.
A pivotal moment came with about six minutes left when Vyctorius Miller sank five straight free throws, ballooning a 68-62 lead to 73-62 and allowing OSU to maintain distance down the stretch.
Team stats highlighted OSU’s edge: they shot 45.3% from the field, outrebounded Colorado 44-34, and committed just seven turnovers while forcing eight. For Colorado (17-15, 7-11 Big 12), Bangot Dak poured in 22 points and eight rebounds, Barrington Hargress added 18 points and nine assists, but their 56.3% free-throw shooting proved costly.
This victory has potentially breathed some new life into OSU’s postseason aspirations. Following the win, the Cowboys reappeared in ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi’s latest projections as one of the Next Four Out, signaling that a deep tournament run could vault them into the field. It’s a timely boost for a team that has struggled in conference play but shown flashes of potential.
Via @ESPNLunardi on XNow, OSU turns its attention to the second round against the No. 6 seed TCU Horned Frogs tonight at 8:30 p.m. CST on ESPNU.
The matchup is daunting, TCU swept the regular-season series, winning 68-65 in Fort Worth on January 20 and 95-92 in overtime in Stillwater on February 14.
In the January clash, TCU’s David Punch scored the go-ahead basket with seconds left to seal a comeback. The February overtime thriller saw TCU never trail, but OSU forced extra time on a last-second tip-in by Parsa Fallah before falling short.
To upset TCU (21-10, 11-7 Big 12), who enters as a tournament lock and on a strong run, OSU must tighten its defense against a potent Horned Frogs attack led by Punch and Xavier Edmonds.
The Cowboys’ offense, which ranks highly in tempo, will need to exploit mismatches and dominate the glass as Coleman did against Colorado.
Limiting turnovers and improving three-point shooting (just 29.4% vs. Colorado) will be crucial against TCU’s stout defense.
Should OSU prevail, they’d advance to the quarterfinals on Thursday against the No. 3 seed Kansas Jayhawks, a matchup that could further help their resume.
Keep an eye on Anthony Roy in tonight’s game, his scoring explosion against Colorado could be the spark OSU needs to continue this improbable run.