Oklahoma State Basketball’s Defensive Struggles and Offensive Issues in Big 12 Opener

LUBBOCK, TX — Steve Lutz, the head coach of the Oklahoma State Cowboys basketball team, had hoped that scoring 80 points would be enough to secure a win in their Big 12 Conference opener. However, the Cowboys fell short in a 102-80 loss to No. 16 Texas Tech at United Supermarkets Arena.

Lutz described the team’s defensive performance as “embarrassing,” particularly highlighting the Red Raiders’ ability to hit 17 of 37 three-pointers — the most the Cowboys have allowed this season. “We’ve talked over and over about playing better defense, starting with guarding the basketball, and then right behind it, our pick-and-roll defense,” Lutz said. “We did not do that today, and Texas Tech made us pay for it.”

The Cowboys, who entered the game with a 12-2 record and a 0-1 Big 12 standing, were led by Anthony Roy, who scored 22 points, including 6 of 8 three-pointers, and added eight rebounds. Parsa Fallah contributed 20 points and five rebounds, becoming the first player in the program’s history to surpass the 1,000-point milestone.

Three Key Takeaways from the Game

Red Raiders’ Perimeter Attack Too Much

Oklahoma State managed to limit Texas Tech’s interior offense in the first half, but it came at a cost. The Red Raiders shot 10 of 21 from beyond the arc in the first half, while star forward JT Toppin struggled, scoring just four points on 2 of 8 shooting.

However, the second half saw a shift in momentum. Toppin finished with 23 points and 14 rebounds, while the perimeter players continued to shoot well. “JT Toppin is a really good player,” Lutz said. “He’s got a chance to be player of the year in our conference possibly. He’s going to get his. He’s going to get rebounds. He plays with good effort.”

Despite efforts to contain Toppin, the Cowboys’ defense on the perimeter was lacking. Over the last five games, opponents are shooting 40.8% from three-point range against the Cowboys. “We definitely came into the game saying we had to take away the 3, and we didn’t do that,” Roy said.

Lutz Frustrated by ‘Ill-Advised, Unpredictable and Selfish Shots’

While Roy and Fallah were effective when given opportunities, the rest of the lineup struggled. The Cowboys’ bench combined to shoot 11 of 41 from the field and 2 of 17 from three-point range.

Lutz criticized the team’s offensive approach, noting that many players took individual shots rather than working within the offensive scheme. “We had several guys that just didn’t make shots,” he said. “We missed layups, we missed 3s, we missed pull-up jumpers. I thought that we rushed some things.”

The Cowboys recorded 10 assists on 29 made baskets, indicating a lack of ball movement. “I thought we took ill-advised, unpredictable and selfish shots, and I think that killed us,” Lutz said.

Benjamin Ahmed Shines Off the Bench

One bright spot for the Cowboys in recent games has been true freshman Benjamin Ahmed. The 6-foot-10, 275-pound center made his debut in late December after offseason surgery and has gradually increased his minutes. On Saturday, he played 17:16, his most action of the season, and contributed nine points and five rebounds.

Ahmed also provided solid interior defense and helped give Parsa Fallah some rest. “I thought Ben did a good job,” Lutz said. “Obviously, he had a little bit of a grind during the summer, then he had surgery, so he was shut down for a long time. But I think that he’s continuing to show that he’s got a chance to be a productive player at Oklahoma State and in this conference.”