3 Takeaways From OSU’s First Road Win This Season Against Cincinnati
Oklahoma State was in desperate need of a win and delivered.
OSU beat Cincinnati 80-76 on Wednesday at Fifth Third Arena in its first road win this season. Not only did OSU get its first true road victory this season, but also it won consecutive conference games for the first time.
The Cowboys led most of the game, including a five-point halftime advantage. Although the game was close throughout, the Cowboys made plays down the stretch to earn a second straight win.
The entire OSU starting five scored in double figures, with four playing at least 36 minutes. Javon Small led the team with 19 points, while Quion Williams put up a near triple-double with 12 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.
Let’s dive into three lessons that can be learned from Wednesday’s game:
OSU desperately needs more bench production
OSU’s season has been defined by bad losses, but part of that has been because of its dependence on the starting lineup.
Even with the starting lineup continuing to change with Bryce Thompson’s injury and matchup adjustments, the bench’s lack of production has been a constant issue. After starting to begin the season, Eric Dailey Jr. has been the one consistent performer off the bench in recent weeks.
However, Dailey’s production has dropped over the past few games until Wednesday’s matchup, where he went for nine points and three rebounds in 14 minutes. His nine points were the only points not scored by the starting lineup.
Although fixing the problem might not be possible this season, it is something to keep in mind for the program moving forward.
OSU looked much more comfortable in the clutch
OSU has struggled to close games all season, but Wednesday looked like a different story. Trailing by two at the final media timeout, OSU finally pulled through in a clutch situation.
Jamyron Keller made three free throws out of the timeout to give OSU a lead. Although Cincinnati quickly took the lead back, OSU did not waver.
Dailey’s 3-pointer helped OSU regain the lead, which it never lost. Although Cincinnati did not give up, OSU made its final eight free throws to seal the win.
The Cowboys also chose to foul up three in the closing seconds, never allowing the Bearcats to get up a potential tying shot.
OSU refuses to give up
Although it seems like the bare minimum for a Division 1 team, the Cowboys have had plenty of reasons to lose hope.
From losing one of their stars for the rest of the season to an abysmal start to conference play, OSU looked on the verge of giving in. Yet, Mike Boynton’s team has consistently fought each game.
After an impressive win against a ranked BYU team on Saturday, OSU carried that momentum into Cincinnati to win back-to-back for the first time in nearly two months. With Bedlam coming up, OSU could get close to fully turning its season around with a third straight win.
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