West Virginia Drops Fourth-Straight Big 12 Road Game

The Mountaineers fall in Stillwater to the Cowboys 70-66

Christopher Hall | Jan 27, 2024

West Virginia Drops Fourth-Straight Big 12 Road Game /

Stillwater, OK - The West Virginia Mountaineers (7-13, 2-5) lost its fourth consecutive Big 12 Conference road game of the season after falling to the Oklahoma State Saturday afternoon 70-66, marking the first league win of the season for the Cowboys (9-11, 1-6).

Oklahoma State and West Virginia traded threes and field goals to begin the game before guard John-Michael Wright hit a straight away three to give the Cowboys an early 8-5 advantage.

The Cowboys stretched their lead to seven at the midway point of the first half before the Mountaineers produced a 13-0 run, highlighted by back-to-back threes from forward Quinn Slazinski to capture a six-point lead, 27-21, with 5:28 left to play in the half.

West Virginia center Jesse Edwards returned to the floor for the first time since he fractured his wrist against UMass in mid-December and a dunk at the 2:35 remaining in the half marked his first field goal in his return to hold the Mountaineers six-point advantage. However, the Mountaineers were held scoreless in the final two minutes, opening the door for the Cowboys to get within one going into halftime 33-32.

West Virginia guard Kerr Kriisa buried a three to open the second half to give the Mountaineers a four-point lead.

Oklahoma State answered with a four-point burst to tie the game, but Kriisa responded with his fourth three of the afternoon to put the Mountaineers back up three, 39-36, at the 17:36 mark of the second half.

Jan 27, 2024; Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Quion Williams (5) sets a play against West Virginia Mountaineers forward Josiah Harris (22) during the first half at Gallagher-Iba Arena / William Purnell-USA TODAY Sports

The Cowboys constructed a 10-2 run for a five-point advantage but consecutive buckets by guard Noah Farrakhan, a dish to forward Akok Akok for the lay-in, and a three by Slazinski as part of a 9-2 run reclaimed the lead, 50-46 midway through the second half.

After Oklahoma State tied the game at 50, Krissa buried back-to-back threes to give the Mountaineers a six-point advantage with just under seven minutes remaining in the game.

West Virginia built its largest lead of seven following a Slazinski three but the Cowboys came right back with an 8-0 run, capped off with a threes from Wright and Bryce Thompson gave the Cowboys a 62-61 lead with 3:24 left to play.

West Virginia forward Pat Suemnick ended the run after a layup and Edwards went 1-2 from the free throw line reclaimed the Mountaineers lead 64-62 with 2:26 left to play.

The Mountaineers went 0-6 from the field in final two minutes of the contest, while Javon Small hit a three to give the Cowboys the lead and Oklahoma State went 3-4 from the free throw line to close the game for a 70-66 victory.