Pokes Advance: Oklahoma State Outlasts Colorado in Gritty Big 12 Battle

Oklahoma State secured its most significant win of the season on Tuesday night, defeating Colorado 92-83 in a high-octane opening round of the 2026 Big 12 Tournament. In a contest defined by physicality and efficiency at the free-throw line, the Cowboys utilized a dominant rebounding performance and a balanced scoring attack to advance. The victory marked the most points ever scored by a Cowboy team in Big 12 Tournament history, signaling that Steve Lutz’s squad is peaking at exactly the right time as they pursue an NCAA Tournament bid.

The game was a tight affair through the first twenty minutes, featuring nine lead changes and a frantic pace. Colorado took an early nine-point lead behind an 11-0 run mid-way through the first half, but Oklahoma State responded with a resilient 12-2 push of their own. By halftime, the Pokes held a razor-thin 41-40 advantage. The second half, however, belonged to the Cowboys. They scored the first seven points of the period and never looked back, leading for the entirety of the final 20 minutes despite several spirited comeback attempts from the Buffaloes.

Anthony Roy led all scorers with 24 points, but the true story of the game was Oklahoma State's dominance in the paint. Christian Coleman anchored the interior with a massive double-double, tallying 17 points and a season-high 14 rebounds. His presence allowed the Pokes to outrebound the Buffs 44-34 and secure 15 offensive boards, which they converted into 17 critical second-chance points. This effort was particularly impressive given that Oklahoma State was playing without key bigs Parsa Fallah and Andrija Vukovic, forcing freshmen Benjamin Ahmed and Mehki Ragland into extended minutes.

Colorado struggled to stay in the game as the Cowboys paraded to the free-throw line. Oklahoma State finished 29-of-38 from the charity stripe, while Colorado was limited to just 9-of-14. This 20-point discrepancy proved insurmountable for the Buffaloes, even though they shot a slightly higher percentage from the field (47% to 45%) and hit 10 three-pointers. Bangot Dak was the bright spot for Colorado, finishing with 22 points on 10-of-13 shooting, but the lack of interior resistance ultimately doomed the Buffaloes' chances of advancing.

With this win, Oklahoma State improves to 19-13 and moves into a second-round matchup against TCU. The Cowboys have now won four of their last five games, including significant victories that have bolstered their postseason resume. For Colorado, the loss likely ends their hopes of an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, finishing the year at 17-15. As the Big 12 Tournament continues in Kansas City, the Cowboys are proving that their combination of veteran scoring and interior grit makes them a threat to anyone in the bracket.