Cowboys Escape with Win Over Cal State-Fullerton, But Defensive Issues Linger
STILLWATER - Oklahoma State heads into the Christmas break with an 11-1 record, but Sunday’s 94-89 win over Cal State-Fullerton was anything but tidy. The Cowboys built a commanding 18-point lead in Gallagher-Iba Arena, only to see it shrink to two in the final seconds before finally closing the door on the Titans.
Let’s break down five key takeaways from a game that was equal parts promising and puzzling for OSU.
1. Second-Half Defense Nearly Cost the Cowboys
For the first 20 minutes, it looked like Oklahoma State was going to cruise. The Cowboys led by 16 at the break and had momentum on both ends of the floor. But the second half told a very different story - one that exposed some real concerns on the defensive end.
Cal State-Fullerton torched the Cowboys after halftime, shooting 59% from the field and a scorching 9-of-13 (69%) from beyond the arc. The Titans, known for their uptempo style - they came in ranked fourth nationally in KenPom’s adjusted tempo, just ahead of OSU - pushed the pace and piled up 20 fastbreak points in the second half alone. That’s double what they managed in the first.
The Cowboys struggled to get back in transition, and it nearly turned into a collapse. The Titans cut the lead to one possession multiple times down the stretch, but a crucial mistake - an ill-timed timeout call when they had none remaining - gave OSU the breathing room it needed to survive.
2. Offensive Flow Disappeared After Halftime
The box score tells a tale of two halves - and not just on defense. Oklahoma State’s offense lost its rhythm after intermission, and the assist numbers paint a clear picture.
In the first half, the Cowboys assisted on 13 of their 19 made field goals - a strong 68% assist rate. The ball was moving, players were cutting, and shots were falling.
In the second half? Just three assists on 14 makes.
That’s a steep drop to 21%, and it mirrored the team’s overall energy.
Head coach Steve Lutz didn’t mince words about the connection between selfish offense and poor defense.
“When you’re not passing the ball and moving the ball offensively, you create no energy,” Lutz said. “You take unpredictable shots, and when that happens, you don’t get back and get set in transition defense.”
It’s a domino effect. Stagnant offense leads to rushed shots, which leads to defensive breakdowns on the other end.
Lutz also pointed to effort and communication - or the lack thereof - as culprits. It’s not just about Xs and Os; it’s about buy-in and execution.
3. Shorthanded Roster Makes the Win More Complicated - and Impressive
Yes, letting an 18-point lead nearly slip away is cause for concern. But it’s also worth noting that the Cowboys were missing three starters: point guard Kanye Clary, power forward Lefteris Mantzoukas, and center Parsa Fallah. That’s a significant chunk of the rotation.
Clary, who had a scary moment in Thursday’s game against Kansas City, was on the bench in street clothes but didn’t appear to be dealing with anything long-term. Fallah went through warmups and was suited up, but never entered the game. And Robert Jennings II, another key contributor, is now out for the season after announcing he’ll take a medical redshirt.
Lutz acknowledged the challenge of managing rotations under those circumstances.
“We’re playing some really different lineups because we’re without three starters,” he said. “As Coach Knight said years ago, the best cure for selfishness and not doing your job is the bench. But we’ve gotta have bodies to be able to sub.”
Depth matters - especially in games like this. And while the performance wasn’t perfect, getting a win while that shorthanded still counts for something.
4. Early Three-Point Barrage Set the Tone
The Cowboys came out firing from deep - and connecting. OSU hit 12 of its 24 three-point attempts in the first half, including a stretch where they drilled five in a row. That early onslaught helped build the 25-8 lead just six minutes into the game.
Anthony Roy and Vyctorius Miller were the catalysts, trading long-range buckets like they were in a personal shootout. Roy hit four threes early, Miller added three of his own, and the Cowboys looked unstoppable from beyond the arc.
But the second half was a different story. OSU attempted just six threes after halftime and made only two. Whether it was a change in approach or a lack of rhythm, the Cowboys moved away from what had been working.
Still, the early shooting display was a reminder of what this team is capable of when the ball is moving and shooters are in rhythm. In total, five different Cowboys hit a three: Roy, Miller, Christian Coleman, Ryan Crotty, and Kirk Cole.
5. Isaiah Coleman Finds His Groove
This felt like a breakout game for Isaiah Coleman - or at least a sign that he’s ready to become a bigger part of the Cowboys’ offense.
Coleman scored 16 points, with 14 of those coming in the second half. He was efficient, going 6-for-8 from the field after the break, and added five rebounds, a block, and two steals. It was the kind of all-around performance that OSU has been waiting for from the 6-foot-5 guard.
Coleman showed flashes earlier this year - he dropped 28 in an exhibition against Auburn - but hadn’t cracked double digits often in regular-season play. That changed on Sunday.
He averaged 15.6 points per game last season at Seton Hall, so the scoring ability is there. And with his athleticism, he brings a different dynamic to the Cowboys’ backcourt. If this game is a sign of things to come, Oklahoma State’s rotation just got a lot more dangerous.
Final Word
Oklahoma State heads into the holiday break with just one loss on the record, but this game was a reminder that there’s still plenty to clean up. Defensive lapses, inconsistent ball movement, and a short bench nearly turned a blowout into a disaster.
Still, a win is a win - especially when you’re missing three starters - and there were plenty of positives to build on. The shooting in the first half, Isaiah Coleman’s emergence, and the grit to survive a late push all matter.
The Cowboys have the talent. The next step is putting together a complete 40 minutes.