In a surprising turn of events, BYU has now suffered three consecutive defeats after being narrowly edged out by Oklahoma State, with a final score of 99-92 at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater. This marks a tough stretch for the Cougars as they now hold a season record of 17 wins and 5 losses, alongside a 5-4 standing in Big 12 competition.
Key Insights
Despite a spirited comeback in the first half, BYU's efforts ultimately fell short. After finding themselves down by as many as 15 points earlier in the game, the Cougars fought back valiantly, closing the half with an impressive 17-4 run that allowed them to tie the game at 41-41 as they headed into halftime. For a brief moment, this seemed like it could be a pivotal moment in their season—a much-needed morale boost following two previous losses. However, the second half told a different story, as BYU was unable to maintain their momentum.
Oklahoma State’s offense exploded in the second half, scoring a staggering 58 points and averaging an impressive 1.57 points per possession, thus sealing the fate of the Cougars.
One of the critical issues for BYU has been their defensive struggles. The Cowboys had their way offensively, shooting an excellent 54.7% from the field and managing to score 52 points in the paint. Although Oklahoma State struggled with their three-point shooting, making only 33.3% of those attempts, guard Anthony Roy was a standout performer, nailing five three-pointers and contributing a remarkable 30 points to his team's effort.
This defeat marks a significant moment for BYU, as it was the first time this season that they lost a game they were favored to win. Coming into this matchup, KenPom gave them a 69% chance of victory, making the loss feel even more disappointing as they fell by seven points.
The Cougars' earlier losses this season—against top-ranked teams like No. 3 UConn and No. 14 Kansas—were somewhat forgivable, given the strength of their opponents. However, losing to an unranked Oklahoma State team, who is now below .500 in Big 12 play, adds a sting to this defeat. Before this game, BYU had an impressive streak of 22 consecutive victories against unranked teams, but the Cowboys effectively put an end to that record.
As BYU faces the challenge of recovering from three straight losses, they now prepare for another tough match against No. 8 Houston at the Marriott Center. Will they find a way to rebound, or will this downward trend continue? Only time will tell.
