Cowboys top century mark in home win over UCF
STILLWATER — Despite trimming the deficit to five late in the second half, the Central Florida men’s basketball team came up short at Oklahoma State, losing 105-94 Wednesday night at Gallagher-Iba Arena.
STILLWATER — Despite trimming the deficit to five late in the second half, the Central Florida men’s basketball team came up short at Oklahoma State, losing 105-94 Wednesday night at Gallagher-Iba Arena.
Bryce Thompson scored 14 of his career-high 25 points in the second half to lead the Cowboys (13-13 overall, 5-10 in Big 12 Conference play).
In defeat, Keyshawn Hall scored a game-high 34 points to lead the Knights (13-13, 4-11).
Thompson made 10-of-15 shots in leading the Cowboys. Abou Ousmane added 17 points despite sitting out much of the second half before fouling out. Arturo Dean scored 16 points, Khalil Brantley had 15 points and Marchelus Avery scored 10 points.
Hall made 9-of-20 shots and was 14-of-17 from the line. Darius Johnson added 23 points — 19 in the second half — and Mikey Williams 14 for the Knights, who lost their seventh straight. They were without starting big man Moustapha Thiam, out with an illness.
Johnson drove for consecutive baskets to get UCF within five with five minutes to go but the Cowboys scored the next six points, four from Thompson, in going on to take the win.
The Cowboys led by as many as 19 in the first half before going into the break ahead 53–40 after outscoring the Knights 20-0 off 15 turnovers.
UCF made 31-of-38 free throws and OSU was 28-of-35 from the line.
OSU beat UCF for the first time in four all-time meetings. They play again on March 5.
OSU is at No. 23 Kansas on Saturday, with tip-off set for 3 p.m. at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kan.
