Oklahoma St defeats UCF 87-76

Oklahoma St Edges UCF in Thrilling Conference Showdown

Oklahoma State pulled off a hard-fought 87-76 victory over visiting University of Central Florida (UCF) at Gallagher-Iba Arena on Wednesday night, snapping the Knights' three-game winning streak.

The game was never one-sided, with both teams trading baskets and displaying impressive defensive efforts. At halftime, Oklahoma St held a slim 41-32 lead, setting the stage for an intense second half that would see the Cowboys build their largest advantage of 15 points.

Parsa Fallah led the charge for Oklahoma St, scoring 24 points on 61.5% shooting from the field and 1-for-1 from beyond the arc. Kanye Clary chipped in with 18 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists, making him a one-man show at times.

For UCF, Riley Kugel led the way with 15 points, but struggled from three-point range, shooting just 2-for-6. Devan Cambridge added 11 points and 11 rebounds for the Knights.

The game was marked by defensive prowess on both sides, with Oklahoma St holding UCF to just 42.4% field goal percentage and forcing 14 turnovers. The Cowboys' own offense shot 47% from the field, but made up for it with a healthy dose of free throws, where they converted 77% of their attempts.

In the end, Oklahoma State's balanced attack and stifling defense proved too much for UCF to overcome. The loss drops the Knights to 12-8 on the season, while Oklahoma St improves to 13-7.

With this win, Oklahoma State moves into a tie for second place in the Big 12 Conference standings, setting up an intriguing matchup against Baylor next week.