Image Source: AP
Key Takeaways:
- Oklahoma State defeated No. 25 UCF 87-76 on Tuesday night
- Parsa Fallah scored 24 points and Kanye Clary added 18 points and 9 rebounds for Oklahoma State
- UCF’s poor shooting plagued the team, with a 38% field goal percentage and 21% from beyond the arc
- Oklahoma State built a 31-23 lead without making a field goal for over 7 minutes in the first half
- The Cowboys will visit No. 3 Iowa State on Saturday, while UCF hosts Cincinnati on Sunday
Introduction to the Game
The Oklahoma State Cowboys secured a significant victory on Tuesday night, defeating the No. 25 UCF Knights 87-76. As reported by the Associated Press, Parsa Fallah led the team with 24 points, while Kanye Clary added 18 points and 9 rebounds. The win marked a crucial moment for Oklahoma State, which improved its record to 13-2 and 1-1 in the Big 12 conference. According to the article, "Parsa Fallah scored 24 points and Kanye Clary added 18 and nine rebounds to help Oklahoma State defeat No. 25 UCF 87-76 on Tuesday night."
First Half Performance
The first half of the game saw Oklahoma State build a significant lead, despite a drought in field goal scoring. As the article states, "Oklahoma State built a 31-23 lead without making a field goal for more than seven minutes." A steal and layup by Jaylen Curry ended the drought, extending the Cowboys’ advantage to 10 points. UCF managed to pull within 36-32 on a pair of free throws by Devan Cambridge, but Clary’s 3-pointer with 9 seconds left gave Oklahoma State a 41-32 lead at halftime. As the AP reports, "A steal and a layup by Jaylen Curry ended the drought with 3:25 left in the first half and extended the advantage to 10 points."
Second Half Struggles for UCF
The second half saw UCF make a run at the Cowboys, scoring seven straight points to cut the deficit to 51-50. However, Oklahoma State responded with a strong performance, taking control of the game with a 13-1 run to make it 80-65 late in the half. Back-to-back 3-pointers by UCF’s George Beale Jr. cut Oklahoma State’s lead to 67-64, but the Cowboys’ momentum proved too much for the Knights to overcome. As the article notes, "Back-to-back 3-pointers by UCF’s George Beale Jr. cut Oklahoma State’s lead to 67-64 before the Cowboys took control with a 13-1 run to make it 80-65 late in the half."
Poor Shooting Plagues UCF
UCF’s poor shooting was a significant factor in the team’s loss, with a 38% field goal percentage and 21% from beyond the arc. As the AP reports, "Poor shooting plagued the Knights, who shot 38 percent for the game, including just 21 percent from beyond the arc." Riley Kugel scored 15 points and Jamichael Stillwell added 13 for UCF, but the team’s overall performance was hindered by its inability to find its rhythm on offense.
Upcoming Games
The win sets up an exciting matchup for Oklahoma State, which will visit No. 3 Iowa State on Saturday. UCF, on the other hand, will host Cincinnati on Sunday. As the article states, "Oklahoma State: Visits No. 3 Iowa State on Saturday. UCF: Hosts Cincinnati on Sunday." The Cowboys will look to build on their momentum, while the Knights will aim to bounce back from a tough loss.
https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/oklahoma-state-tops-no-25-ucf-87-76/