deadspin
In the season opener for both teams on Monday in Stillwater, Okla., Oklahoma State's bench delivered a decisive 58-17 advantage over Incarnate Word's reserves, fueling a 91-60 Cowboys victory. Luka Bogavac came off the bench to score 14 points, while Andrija Grbovic added 10.
Jordan Burks and Parker Robinson each contributed 11 points for Oklahoma State, and Jacob Walker filled the stat sheet with eight points, eight assists and four steals. The Cardinals were led by Mekhi Conner's game-high 18 points and Godswill Erheriene's 12.
Oklahoma State stormed out of the gates with 12 unanswered points, capped by a Walker steal that led to a Burks fastbreak dunk. The Cowboys held a 15-4 edge in fastbreak points and recorded 10 steals, while Incarnate Word managed just one steal.
Incarnate Word turned the ball over 21 times compared to only nine for Oklahoma State, as the Cowboys consistently disrupted the Cardinals' offensive flow. After D'Arrae Goodwin set up Erheriene for an alley-oop dunk that briefly halted the run, the Cowboys responded with five straight points to take a 17-2 lead.
Incarnate Word answered with a step-back 3-pointer and a pull-up jumper from Max Garcia-Plata to cut the deficit to 17-7, prompting an Oklahoma State timeout. The Cowboys then unleashed a 16-2 surge, capped by Latrell Allmond's follow-up dunk, to seize a 33-9 lead with 7:15 remaining in the first half.
Oklahoma State dominated the offensive glass, holding a 21-4 advantage in second-chance points and pulling down 15 offensive rebounds to the Cardinals' three. Erheriene's dunk and Brandon McCreesh's three pulled Incarnate Word within 43-17 late in the first half, but the Cardinals went scoreless over the final 3:04 as Oklahoma State reeled off 11 straight points, taking a 54-17 halftime lead on a Bogavac trey.
In the second half, the Cardinals trimmed the deficit to 34 points on five occasions but could not get it below that threshold until an 8-0 run to close the game.
Key Analysis
Oklahoma State's depth and defensive pressure proved to be the difference, as the Cowboys' bench significantly outscored Incarnate Word's reserves and forced 21 turnovers. The early 12-0 run set the tone, and the Cowboys never looked back, showcasing a balanced attack and relentless effort on the offensive boards.
Originally reported by deadspin.