Cowboys fall to FAU in Charleston Classic

Thursday, November 21

Charleston S.C. / TD Arena

1:30 PM

Oklahoma State University

3-1,0-0Big 12

Florida Atlantic

4-2,0-0AAC

Oklahoma St.

Fla. Atlantic

November 21, 2024 | Cowboy Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Tournament Central Postgame Notes (PDF)

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Mounting foul trouble eventually took its toll on Oklahoma State in an 86-78 quarterfinal loss to Florida Atlantic at the Charleston Classic.

Kyle Tandy scored a game-high 21 points for FAU (4-2), which offset a 42.3% shooting ledger by converting 35-of-49 at the line – the second most free throw attempts by an OSU opponent in the shot-clock era (50 vs. North Texas on Nov. 17, 2008).

Khalil Brantley and Robert Jennings II led OSU (3-1) with 16 points each. Jennings also grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds to secure his first ever double-double, and Brandon Newman 10 boards.

The Cowboys were whistled for 33 total fouls – their highest count since a 2014 NCAA tournament loss to Gonzaga (33). They converted 22 of 32 free throws but made just 34.2% of their field goal attempts, including 6-of-26 from distance.

OSU won the rebounding battle, 50-39, with Newman accounting for seven of the team's 19 offensive caroms.

Brantley and Arturo Dean each had three of OSU's 11 steals. The Cowboys have totaled 10-plus thefts in each of the first four games, marking the program's longest streak since the 2007-08 season.

The Owls committed 11 first-half turnovers but just four thereafter to help overcome a 39-34 halftime deficit. The majority of their 52 second-half points came at the charity stripe, where they knocked down 28-of-34.

Each of the Cowboys' top three scorers – Abou Ousmane, Bryce Thompson and Marchelus "Chi Chi" Avery – hit their respective limits during a second half that included 23 OSU personal fouls.

Despite all that, the Cowboys spent the bulk of the afternoon playing from in front. South Carolina native Jamyron Keller's three-pointer capped a 9-0 run that gave OSU its largest lead of the day (35-25) with 5:00 to go in the half.

OSU still led 65-61 after Jennings' jumper with 6:22 to play but then missed five straight shots and 4-of-8 free throws during a 5:00 field goal drought.

Leland Walker's three-point play with 4:40 remaining gave FAU its first lead since midway through the first half – 68-67. Tandy's triple and a Ken Evans free throw made it 77-69 with 2:00 to go.

The Cowboys will meet up with Miami (3-1) at 1 p.m. CT Friday on ESPNU in the tournament's consolation bracket.