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Oklahoma State Cowboys Edge Past Wofford Terriers at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Men's Basketball Showdown

In a closely contested match at Gallagher-Iba Arena, the Oklahoma State Cowboys emerged victorious over the Wofford Terriers with a final score of 76-70. The Cowboys now hold an unblemished record, while the Terriers fall to their first defeat.


Dec 20, 2023; Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA; Wofford Terriers center Kyler Filewich (14) puts up a shot over Oklahoma State Cowboys center Brandon Garrison (23) during the second half at Gallagher-Iba Arena. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-USA TODAY Sports

The home crowd witnessed an intense battle where the Oklahoma State Cowboys demonstrated their offensive capabilities by sinking 15 three-pointers at a remarkable 46 percent success rate. Their sharpshooting from beyond the arc was complemented by a solid free throw performance, hitting all five attempts. The team's overall field goal percentage stood at 46 percent with 28 successful shots out of 61 attempts.


Defensively, the Cowboys were just as impressive, racking up ten steals and two blocks during the game. This defensive pressure contributed to turning over the ball for Wofford Terriers on numerous occasions, leading to Oklahoma State scoring an impressive 24 points off turnovers.


Dec 20, 2023; Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys bench reacts after a play during the second half against the Wofford Terriers at Gallagher-Iba Arena. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-USA TODAY Sports

The playmaking ability of Oklahoma State was on full display as they dished out a total of 21 assists which reflects their team-oriented approach and fluid ball movement. This assist tally surpassed that of Wofford's by nine.


On the other side of court, despite falling short in points scored, Wofford Terriers showed resilience and efficiency in certain aspects of their game. They managed to shoot with high accuracy from two-point range at a rate of 60 percent and matched Oklahoma State’s fast break points with twelve each. The Terriers also dominated inside scoring with an imposing 46 points in paint compared to just fourteen by Oklahoma State.


Dec 20, 2023; Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA; Wofford Terriers guard Corey Tripp (10) tries to drive through Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Javon Small (12) and Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Connor Dow (13) during the second half at Gallagher-Iba Arena. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-USA TODAY Sports

However, it wasn't enough to overcome their opponents' offensive firepower and defensive tenacity; even though they matched them in terms of personal fouls committed—Oklahoma State had ten while Wofford had eleven—their turnover count was slightly higher which proved costly against such opportunistic opposition.


As for rebounds, both teams fought hard under the boards but it was Wofford who came out on top with seven more total rebounds than Oklahoma State; however this advantage did not translate into additional second chance points where they only managed four compared to three by Oklahoma State.


Looking ahead after this hard-fought victory for Oklahoma State Cowboys fans can mark their calendars for December 31st when Gallagher-Iba Arena will once again be filled with excitement as South Carolina State Bulldogs visit Stillwater for another anticipated matchup. Fans unable to attend can catch all action live on ESPN+ starting at eight o'clock Central Time evening.

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