Oklahoma State Falls to Arizona State: Rebounding Woes, Turnovers, and a Resume Hit
The Cowboys' trip to Arizona was supposed to be a chance to reset after a rough outing against No. 1 Arizona.
Instead, it turned into another frustrating night, this time at the hands of Arizona State. Oklahoma State dropped Tuesday night’s contest 85-76, and while the final score might suggest a competitive game, the underlying numbers paint a much messier picture.
Here’s a deeper look at what went wrong - and what it means moving forward.
1. Sun Devils Owned the Glass
Rebounding is often about effort, and Arizona State simply brought more of it. Coming into the night, ASU was getting outrebounded by over three boards per game. But on Tuesday, they flipped the script - dominating the glass 45-34, including a staggering 19 offensive rebounds.
That hustle translated directly to the scoreboard: 24 second-chance points for ASU, compared to just four for Oklahoma State. That’s not just a stat - it’s a gut punch. The Cowboys had their moments, including a 12-0 run late in the first half, but the rebounding disparity was consistent and costly.
One sequence summed it up: 6-foot-2 Moe Odom snagged an offensive rebound off a missed free throw while boxed in by two taller Cowboys - 6-foot-10 Parsa Fallah and 6-foot-5 Vyctorius Miller. That board led to two more points before the halftime buzzer and underscored just how outworked OSU was on the glass.
Even after halftime, when OSU showed a bit more fight, the Sun Devils still won the rebounding battle 20-15. The Cowboys couldn’t close possessions, and it cost them dearly.
2. Turnovers Compound the Problem
As if getting beat on the boards wasn’t enough, Oklahoma State also turned in one of its sloppiest performances with the basketball. The Cowboys coughed it up 17 times - tied for their second-highest total of the season and the most in Big 12 play.
Those giveaways weren’t just empty possessions; they turned into 26 points for Arizona State. That’s the kind of number that swings games, especially when you’re already struggling to finish stops on defense.
Some of the turnovers were just head-scratchers. Christian Coleman took a pass off the face on a fast break that ricocheted out of bounds. Later, a backcourt violation was followed by a miscommunication between Coleman and Anthony Roy on a simple pass - with the two standing just feet apart.
With every game carrying more weight as March approaches, this was not the time for mental lapses and unforced errors.
3. A Whistle-Filled Grind
Let’s be clear: Oklahoma State didn’t lose this game because of the officiating. But the constant whistles didn’t help the flow of a game that was already teetering on the edge of chaos.
In total, 43 personal fouls were called, and 62 free throws were attempted. While some of that came from OSU trying to extend the game late, the stop-and-start rhythm was already well-established.
Roy and Miller fouled out. Fallah and Jaylen Curry both finished with four fouls.
ASU had two players with four fouls as well. It felt like every possession was ending at the line.
There was even a strange moment early in the second half when ASU’s Santiago Trouet was initially whistled for his fourth foul. After a lengthy review, officials reassigned one of his earlier fouls, allowing him to stay on the floor - and he made it count. Trouet went on to score 10 straight points during that stretch and finished with a 16-point, 10-rebound double-double.
Again, the officials didn’t cost OSU the game. But they certainly didn’t make it any easier to watch.
4. Defense Was Solid - Until the Rebound
Here’s the thing: the Cowboys’ half-court defense wasn’t bad. Arizona State shot just 40% from the field and 24% from beyond the arc. That’s the kind of defensive stat line you can usually live with.
But defense doesn’t end with a contested shot. It ends with a rebound - and that’s where OSU fell apart.
The rotations were crisp at times. The effort on the perimeter was there.
But none of it mattered when the Sun Devils turned missed shots into extra possessions time and time again. It’s hard to play winning basketball when you defend well for 25 seconds, then give up a putback or reset.
5. Bubble Watch: Resume Takes Another Hit
With the loss, Oklahoma State drops to 4-7 in Big 12 play. And with just seven regular-season games left, the margin for error is shrinking fast.
Here’s what’s left on the schedule:
- vs. TCU (Feb.
- vs.
Kansas (Feb. 18)
- at Colorado (Feb. 21)
- vs. West Virginia (Feb.
- at Cincinnati (Feb.
- at UCF (March 3)
- vs. Houston (March 7)
To finish .500 in conference play, the Cowboys would need to go 5-2 down the stretch. Based on Tuesday’s showing, that’s a tall order.
Still, there’s a path. Road wins at Colorado and UCF - both currently considered Quad 1 opportunities - would carry serious weight. OSU already beat UCF in Stillwater, and while Colorado sits on the fringe of Quad 1 status, it’s a more winnable game than, say, the finale against Houston.
The dream scenario? Win every game except Kansas and Houston. That would give the Cowboys two more Quad 1 wins and a .500 Big 12 record - a combination that could put them back in the NCAA Tournament conversation.
There’s also the Big 12 Tournament, which could offer a chance to steal a bid or at least boost the resume. But make no mistake: the window is closing. And if OSU wants to stay in the hunt, it’ll need to tighten up - fast.
Bottom Line
Oklahoma State didn’t just lose to Arizona State - it got outworked. The rebounding disparity, turnover count, and lack of composure in key moments all point to a team that’s still searching for consistency.
With the postseason picture coming into focus, the Cowboys don’t have time to dwell. They need to respond - and they need to do it now.