In Stillwater, the Oklahoma State Cowboys faced a tough challenge against the No. 8 Kansas Jayhawks and their standout, Darryn Peterson, who tallied 23 points. Despite a valiant effort, the Cowboys fell short, potentially slipping further from NCAA Tournament contention.
The Cowboys’ upcoming schedule offers some hope, with games against Colorado, West Virginia, Cincinnati, and UCF. A strong showing in these matchups could reignite their tournament hopes, but the task is daunting, especially after Kansas nearly ran away with the game early on.
Kansas jumped to a commanding 23-point lead within the first 15 minutes, only for Oklahoma State to answer back with an 11-0 run. Parsa Fallah was a bright spot, outscoring the Jayhawks 7-3 in the opening minutes of the second half and finishing with a team-high 21 points, including a three-pointer that matched his career-high attempts from beyond the arc.
Anthony Roy, known for his shooting prowess, struggled to find his rhythm, managing 16 points on 3-of-10 shooting from three-point range. Despite these efforts, Kansas maintained control, even with Peterson limited to just three points in the second half.
Oklahoma State's shooting woes were evident, hitting only 25% from beyond the arc on 28 attempts. They did hold a slight advantage on the offensive glass, 15-10, but were outrebounded overall 41-38. Kansas, meanwhile, showcased their shooting efficiency, hitting 46% from both the field and three-point range.
While the Cowboys displayed competitive spirit, matching the Jayhawks' shooting precision proved too great a challenge. As they look ahead, Oklahoma State will need to capitalize on their upcoming schedule to keep their postseason dreams alive.