Anei’s block party sets up date with reigning champ Villanova
Behind a block party from a freshman and some veteran guard play, the Oklahoma State basketball team advanced to the semifinals of the AdvoCare Invitational with an 84-64 victory over Memphis.
With their third straight victory, the Cowboys earned a matchup with reigning national champion Villanova at 10:30 a.m. Friday in the semifinals of the in Orlando, Florida, tournament.
Here are three takeaways from OSU’s victory over the Tigers:
Anei denies
After OSU’s victory over UTSA last week, coach Mike Boynton offered a prediction about freshman big man Yor Anei.
“Yor is going to be a dynamic shot blocker,” he said. “I’d be shocked if he doesn’t challenge for the career lead or season lead in shot blocks over his career at some point.”
Anei showed a glimpse of that potential Thursday. He blocked five shots in nine first-half minutes, becoming the first Cowboy with at least five blocks in a full game since Anthony Allen in December 2015.
With his sixth block, he matched OSU’s freshman record for most blocks in a game, last achieved by Byron Houston in 1989. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him hold that record individually by the end of the season.
Anei was dangerous on the other end, as well, scoring 12 points on 6-of-7 shooting. As a team, the Cowboys set an AdvoCare Invitational record with 10 blocks, their most since November 2015.
Veteran additions
It’s becoming clear how badly OSU missed veteran guards Michael Weathers and Mike Cunningham in its season-opening loss to Charlotte.
Weathers, a redshirt sophomore, was a force against Charleston and provided the same spark against Memphis, scoring 13 points.
Cunningham made his OSU debut after dealing with a nagging left hamstring injury. The graduate transfer finished with eight points, including a pair of 3-pointers late in the first half.
Captain crunch
Once again, each of the Cowboys’ captains performed well.
Cam McGriff delivered his second double-double in three games with 11 points and 12 rebounds. Lindy Waters remained a statsheet stuffer, recording 10 points, five rebounds and four assists. Thomas Dziagwa stayed hot from 3; having entered the game with 13 makes on 21 attempts from deep, he went 4-for-6 on 3-pointers Thursday and led both teams with 14 points.
Three things to know •Oklahoma State and Villanova meet for the second time when they play Friday in the AdvoCare Invitational semifinals. It's their first meeting since December 1974, an 88-75 Cowboys victory in the Kentucky Invitational.
•Villanova, the reigning national champion, is off to a bit of a sputtering start, having already lost twice on its home court. The Wildcats beat Canisius, 83-56, on Thursday to advance to the semifinals.
•After going 4-for-6 from 3 in the Cowboys’ 84-64 victory over Memphis, OSU junior guard Thomas Dziagwa is 17-for-27 from deep and ranks seventh nationally making 63 percent of his 3-pointers.