OSU loses tight game to Southern Illinois
STILLWATER — Oklahoma State guard Bryce Thompson was trying to find a lane to the basket after a screen. Instead, Southern Illinois’ defense switched. Thompson had to take the jump shot.
And the basketball hit off the front of the rim.
The Cowboys’ collapse was complete in those final seconds Thursday night.
“I was trying to make a play,” Thompson said. “I felt like I got a good shot. I just left it a little short.”
Southern Illinois completed a comeback and the Cowboys fell 61-60 in Gallagher-Iba Arena.
OSU (1-1) led by 13 early in the second half. It’s the second straight game OSU has struggled late. This time, the Cowboys were unable to put the game away.
The Cowboys did not score in the final 4:10.
Southern Illinois’ Marcus Domask made the game-winning 3-pointer with 21.6 seconds remaining.
“Frustrating that we didn’t execute better offensively down the stretch because for most of the game our defense was so good,” OSU coach Mike Boynton said.
Thompson and Avery Anderson III finished with a team-high 14 points apiece. Moussa Cisse scored 11 and had career-high 15 rebounds, but he missed three foul shots in the final 52.5 seconds.
Here are three quick takeaways from the game:
Late-game execution hurts Cowboys
Two games into the season, it’s the same old story.
A year ago, OSU struggled late in games, often faltering. Through the first two games this week, the Cowboys have shown a lot of the same signs.
A 31-point lead in the second half nearly got away from them against Texas-Arlington. A 13-point lead did get away Thursday.
Thompson pointed to getting too comfortable in the moment.
“I think just understand to put teams away and not get complacent with the little things that matter,” Thompson said.
But the Cowboys did not execute. They missed their final six shots. High Point transfer John-Michael Wright made a bad pass with 13.5 seconds remaining. Cisse missed the trio of foul shots.
“For us, it was a lot of self-inflicted wounds, if you will,” Boynton said. “Not to take anything away from (Southern Illinois), but they had nothing to do with us missing free throws for instance or even our late turnovers there.”
Boynton was also concerned with the similar struggles to last year. But also the inability to extend a lead late.
“I feel like this team is much more equipped to handle it moving forward,” Boynton said. “Tonight might be a lesson for the guys that weren’t here (last season). I feel like we should have been able to extend it from 13 to 15-16 and really put real pressure on us.
“We just gotta get better.”
Salukis are no pushover
Boynton was completely aware of the ability to be on the wrong end of an upset.
Then Southern Illinois would simply not go away.
The Salukis were undersized. But they had experience. The roster is very similar to a team that upset Colorado a year ago.
“A lot of those guys returned, so they’ve been in moments against big teams,” Boynton said. “They didn’t get away from who they are and what they do. They stuck with it. They made some big plays and big shots down the stretch. That’s where the credit goes to them.”
The Cowboys led 41-28 with 16:39 remaining. Southern Illinois kept within striking distance.
Then Southern Illinois star Lance Jones scored seven points in 72 seconds to get within one with 2:30 remaining. Jones finished with a game-high 19 points.
That was the spark the Salukis needed.
Then Domask’s shot happened. He waited in the corner for the kickout. And he delivered.
Cowboys struggle at the line
Thompson and Cisse were the lone Cowboys to miss free shots. But they certainly mattered.
Thompson started 1 for 6 from the line and was the lone OSU player to attempt a free shot until Wright made two with 11:06 remaining.
Thompson did not take another shot at the line. Cisse went 1 for 4 in the final 52.5 seconds.
The rest of the team was 8 for 8. “I feel like if I would have made those two last shots, it would have been different,” Cisse said.