Oklahoma State coach Steve Lutz hopes his team has learned its lesson after almost blowing an 18-point, second-half lead to Cal State Fullerton last week.
The Cowboys (11-1) wrap up their nonconference schedule Monday when they host Bethune-Cookman (3-9) in Stillwater, Okla.
Oklahoma State built a commanding lead against the Titans on Dec. 21, but a late 12-4 run almost allowed the Titans to pull off the major upset.
“We did not play the best defense in the second half,” Lutz said. “It has been our story all year. We get ahead, we get a lead and we get complacent. We get selfish and start taking bad shots.”
Lutz said the bad shots lead to bad defense.
“When you are not passing the ball, you create no movement,” he said. “You create no energy, no offensive energy and you take unpredictable shots. And when you take unpredictable shots, you don’t get back and get set in your transition defense.
“When you are selfish on offense, you are going to be selfish on defense. Obviously, we have to get better at that.”
The Cowboys are led by Anthony Roy, who is scoring 16.2 points per game. Roy is hitting 43.3% of his 3-pointers (26 of 60).
Vyctorius Miller is scoring 15.7 points per game and shooting 52.9% from the floor and making 49% of his 3-pointers (24 of 49).
Parsa Fallah leads the Cowboys with 5.8 rebounds per game and is scoring 13.1 ppg. Christian Coleman and Jaylen Curry are both averaging 12.5 points per game to give the Cowboys five scorers averaging in double figures.
Facing the Cowboys might seem like a vacation for Bethune-Cookman coach Reggie Theus after the Wildcats were blasted 107-71 by No. 1 Arizona on Dec. 22.
“They have the size,” Theus said of the top-ranked Wildcats. “They have the shooting and the depth. … I thought our guys battled, but ultimately the size was too much.”
Bethune-Cookman is led by Jakobi Heady, who is averaging 15.9 points per game and pulling down 4.8 rebounds. Arterio Morris is scoring 12.3 per game and grabbing 4.5 rebounds.
This is the Wildcats’ last game before opening SWAC play on Saturday against Florida A&M.
–Field Level Media
