The Cowboys' season came to an abrupt end at home, despite a solid turnout of Shockers fans in the stands. Oklahoma State fell to Wichita State 96-70 in their National Invitational Tournament second-round matchup. Even with a more complete roster than their first-round victory over Davidson, the Cowboys only managed to hold the lead for a mere 17 seconds on Sunday.
Returning to the lineup were key players Anthony Roy, Vyctorius Miller, and Isaiah Coleman, who had missed the previous game due to a suspension. However, their presence couldn't stave off the relentless Shockers.
Kenyon Giles was the star of the night, lighting up the scoreboard with 28 points, including eight three-pointers. OSU struggled from the start, falling behind by as much as 14 in the first half.
Wichita State capitalized, hitting eight of 11 shots during a stretch to build a commanding 22-8 lead. But the Cowboys weren't ready to fold just yet.
Kanye Clary stepped up, scoring seven of OSU's nine points in a crucial span, leading all scorers at halftime with 16 points. His efforts helped fuel a 12-2 run, bringing the Cowboys within striking distance at 34-31.
Christian Coleman also found his rhythm, contributing the final eight points of the half to narrow the gap to 39-37. However, the Shockers closed the half on a 5-0 run, taking a 44-37 lead into the break.
History suggested a strong performance from Coleman would bode well for the Cowboys, as they were 9-2 when he scored at least 15 points. Coleman delivered with a season-high 22 points, sparking a 10-2 run to open the second half and briefly giving OSU a 47-46 lead.
Yet, the Shockers responded with a six-point burst and never looked back. The Cowboys found themselves down 61-51 midway through the second half, struggling offensively with a 1-for-8 shooting slump.
Wichita State extended their lead to 15 points with a 14-2 run, and despite OSU's efforts, the Shockers maintained control. Kenyon Giles hit consecutive threes, followed by an Emmanuel Okorafor dunk, pushing the lead to 21 with just over four minutes remaining. The Shockers finished strong, stretching their advantage to as much as 29 points, sealing the 96-70 victory.
Despite holding a slight edge in offensive rebounds, the Cowboys were outscored 23-4 in second-chance points and surrendered 18 points off 11 turnovers. OSU endured multiple cold streaks, including a 0-for-9 stretch in the first half.
Five Shockers reached double figures, with Giles leading the charge. For the Cowboys, Coleman posted a double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds, while Clary added 19 points and four boards.
The loss concludes the Cowboys' season at 20-15, marking a three-game improvement from Coach Lutz's debut season.