Cowboys fend off Tarleton State

Wednesday, December 18

Stillwater

7:00 PM

Oklahoma State University

7-3,0-0Big 12

Tarleton State

3-10,0-0WAC

Tarleton St.

Oklahoma St.

Photo by: OSU Athletics

December 18, 2024 | Cowboy Basketball

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STILLWATER -- Marchelus "Chi Chi" Avery scored the last nine Oklahoma State points to help close out visiting Tarleton State, 66-61, on Wednesday evening.

Avery finished with 18 points and matched a personal-best with 10 rebounds on the way to his first career double-double.

Jamyron Keller and Bryce Thompson added 10 points apiece for the Cowboys (7-3), who trailed by a dozen with 2:00 to play in the first half before rallying.

Keller, who made his first start of the season, sank four straight free throws to open a 19-4 OSU run that spanned halftime. His layup tied the game at 35 with 14:14 to play.

OSU shook off a 24.1% first-half shooting performance by making 57.7% of its second-half attempts, including 6-of-12 from deep.

Avery's free throw with 9:12 to play snapped a 44-all tie and put the Cowboys in front for good. Over the final 3:32 he added a three-pointer, a tip-in and a layup.

After TSU's Bubu Benjam missed a potential game-tying three-pointer with 20 seconds to go, the fifth-year forward iced the win by hitting a pair of 1-and-1 foul shots.

Freshman Keitenn Bristow led Tarleton State (3-10) with 17 points on 4-of-7 three-point shooting, and Marty Silvera added 16 points, six assists and five steals.

The Texans made 13 of their first 22 shots (.591) while building a 31-19 lead with 2:38 to play in the first half but were just 12-of-32 (.375) the rest of the way.

OSU won the rebounding battle 42-26 (22-10 after halftime) and held a 14-3 edge in second-chance points.

The Cowboys close out their non-conference slate on Sunday afternoon against Oral Roberts inside Gallagher-Iba Arena (2 p.m. CT, ESPN+).