Oklahoma State vs. West Virginia Postgame Notes

Oklahoma State Postgame Notes vs. West Virginia
Final Score: Oklahoma State – 70, West Virginia – 66
Records: Oklahoma State 9-11 (1-6); West Virginia 7-13 (2-5)
Jan. 27, 2024 | Stillwater, Oklahoma (Gallagher-Iba Arena)

Oklahoma State Leaders: Points – Brandon Garrison (20), Rebounds – Javon Small (12), Assists – Javon Small (7)
West Virginia Leaders: Points – Kerr Kriisa (21), Rebounds – Noah Farrakhan (7), Assists – Kobe Johnson (5)

Game Notes:
• Oklahoma State earned its first conference win of the season, taking down West Virginia 70-66.
• Javon Small posted his second double-double of the year with 15 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists. He is the first Cowboy to log a 15-point double-double game with seven assists since Marcus Smart, who logged two in his career: March 21, 2014 against Gonzaga and Jan. 18, 2014, versus Kansas.
• Brandon Garrison matched a career-high 20 points with a career-best four steals on 6-of-8 shooting and an 8-of-10 effort from the line. Garrison was the first Cowboys with 20 points and four steals in a game since Bryce Thompson posted 21 points and four steals on Feb. 8, 2023, against Texas Tech.
• Garrison became the first freshman since Cade Cunningham to post two-or-more 20-point games in a season. Cunningham had 14 in his lone season with the Pokes.
• Three Cowboy starters scored in double figures on Saturday as Garrison, Small and Wright finished with 20, 15 and 10 points, respectively. OSU last had three double-digit scoring starters against Baylor on Jan. 6.
• The Cowboys drained a season-high 20 free throws on 26 attempts (76.9%), its most since Jan. 28, 2023.
• Jarius Hicklen has connected on a three-pointer in 16 consecutive games (Nov. 20 - Present) and in 19 of 20 this season. His .427 three-point percentage (38-of-89) places him tied for 13th with John Potter (1990-91) on OSU's single-season list in the category (minimum of 30 three-pointers made).
• For the third straight game, OSU rolled out a starting five of Javon Small, John-Michael Wright, Bryce Thompson, Connor Dow and Brandon Garrison.

Game Flow:
• Oklahoma State fended off a 13-0 run in the first half, ending the half of 5-of-6 shooting to trail by one to enter the half. Small and Garrison generated steam with the ball, picking up four and three first-half assists, respectively.
• Dow opened the contest with a three-point shot, opening the gates on three straight OSU makes for an early 8-5 lead.
• West Virginia replied with two straight makes to take the lead.
• After trailing, 11-10, the Cowboys stirred up six points behind Garrison, Dailey Jr. and Thompson.
• Following a four-point play from Small, the Cowboys extended its lead to 21-14 at the midway mark of the first half.
• The Mountaineers replied with a 13-0 run with the Cowboys missing six straight field goals.
• OSU made its next five shots, and forced a travel to close the deficit to one. The stint was highlighted by a Garrison alley-oop jam, a Hicklen three, and a Brandon Garrison layup, which all came off assists.
• Thompson missed a deep three as the halftime horn sounded, to enter the half trailing, 33-32.
• The Cowboys trailed four early in the second half, but knotted the game at 36 in the half's first two minutes.
• WVU exchanged a lead change and tie before OSU took its first lead since the 7-minute mark of the first half off a Thompson free throw.
• The Cowboys built off its run, sourcing a 10-2 stretch to lead, 46-41.
• West Virginia responded with a 15-4 run to take a 56-50 lead.
• Oklahoma State continued to chip away at the Mountaineers lead, culminating with an 8-0 run, carried by threes from Wright and Thompson, to take a 62-61 lead with 3:24 to play.
• West Virginia scored on its next possession and split a pair of free throws on the next to lead, 64-62, entering the final two minutes.
• Garrison got to the charity stripe with 1:27 to play, hitting both foul shots to tie play.
• Small caught wrist on a Mountaineers layup, yielding a pair of made foul shots.
• Small hit a catch-and-shoot right-wing three from Wright to take a one-point lead inside one minute.
• After a missed Noah Farrakhun free throw and Akok Akok offensive rebound, the ball was stripped and wrestled away by Garrison. He was fouled in the scramble, netting two free throws to lead, 69-66.
• Akok air balled a right-wing three out-of-bounds with 10.8 to play, with Thompson icing the game at the line with a free throw.

The Cowboy Win...
• Marked their first in Big 12 play (1-6).
• Snapped a three-game home losing streak and made them 8-5 this season inside GIA.
• Gave them a 13-12 lead in the all-time series with WVU.
• Made them 6-6 against WVU in Stillwater with three consecutive wins.

Team Streaks:
• OSU has made at least one three-point shot in 783 consecutive games dating back to Jan. 13, 2001.
• OSU has made 10+ free throws in seven of its nine seven games and 13 of its 20 games this season.
• Dating back to last season, the Cowboys have logged 10+ assists in 46 of its last 56 games.

Oklahoma State University Athletics

Players Mentioned

Connor Dow

Brandon Garrison

Jarius Hicklen

Javon Small

Bryce Thompson

John-Michael Wright

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