Cincinnati (AP) — Javon Small scored 19 points, Jamyron Keller added 15, and Oklahoma State defeated Cincinnati 80-76 on Wednesday night, putting a hole in the Bearcats’ NCAA Tournament aspirations.
Oklahoma State (12-14, 4-9 Big 12) won its first conference road game of the season with 14 points from Brandon Garrison, 12 from Quion Williams, and 11 from John-Michael Wright. Williams recorded eight assists and eight rebounds.
Oklahoma State made 30 of 54 (55.6%) shots and 13 of 14 (92.9%) from the free throw line.
Simas Lukosius led the Bearcats (16-10, 5-8) with 17 points, Jizzle James had 11, and Jamille Reynolds and Day Day Thomas each had 10. Despite shooting 50% (30 of 60), Cincinnati made only 5 of 17 (29.4%) from three-point range.
With 3:01 left, Eric Dailey Jr. scored a three-pointer to give Oklahoma State a 69-68 lead. Dan Skillings turned it over on the Bearcats’ next possession. Dailey rebounded his missed short-shot attempt and gave the ball to Wright, who hit a three-pointer for a four-point advantage with 2:15 remaining.
After an exchange of scoreless possessions, Williams made a pair of foul shots before Lukosius hit a three to cut the margin to 74-71. Skillings’ layup with 26 seconds remaining got Cincinnati within one point.
Small scored two foul baskets with 19 and seven seconds remaining to give the team a 78-75 lead. Oklahoma State then fouled Thomas, preventing him from scoring a three and tying the game. He made his first one-and-one, but Oklahoma State capitalized on an intentional miss. Keller converted two foul shots with two seconds left to seal the deal.
