Cowboys fall In Big 12 opener to No. 14 Houston

Monday, December 30

Stillwater

7:00 PM

Oklahoma State University

8-4,0-1Big 12

Houston

9-3,1-0Big 12

Houston

Oklahoma St.

Photo by: OSU Athletics

December 30, 2024 | Cowboy Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Postgame Notes (PDF)

STILLWATER – No. 14 Houston handed Oklahoma State its first home loss of the season, 60-47, on Monday evening in the Big 12 opener for both sides.

Brandon Newman scored a team-high 12 points to run his collegiate career total 991. Robert Jennings II added 10 to go with eight points and four assists from Khalil Brantley.

J'Wan Roberts finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds for Houston (9-3, 1-0), the national leader in both scoring defense and field goal percentage defense.

The Cowboys (8-3, 0-1 Big 12) joined a growing list of Cougar victims, finishing with their lowest shooting percentage (.259) in more than a decade. They made just 14-of-54 attempts, including 4-of-19 from deep, but did knock down 15-of-18 free throws.

Patrick Suemnick's putback capped an early 9-0 run that spotted OSU to a 17-11 lead at the 10:24-mark. That was as good as it got for the home team. They missed their next 10 shots and turned the ball over eight times during a 17-1 Houston run to close out the half.

The field goal drought hit 12:18 with 13 straight misses before Arturo Dean's putback two minutes into the second half, however Houston kept the lead in double-figures the rest of the way.

The Cougars shot 42.1% for the game, 6-of-20 from three and a perfect 6-for-6 at the foul line.

OSU won the rebounding battle, 39-34, while limiting the visitors to just five offensive rebounds. A .152 offensive rebounding percentage was the Cougars' lowest in nearly eight years.

The teams will meet again in Houston on Feb. 4.

OSU hits the road for an 11 a.m. CT Saturday matchup at West Virginia. The game will air on CBS Sports Network. The Cowboys return home next Tuesday, Jan. 7 against Kansas State (7 p.m. CT, ESPN+).