Big 12 Basketball: WVU falls, OK State rises heading into conference tournament

Previous Games: 79-75 win vs. Oklahoma, 70-81 loss at. Baylor, 85-80 win at. West Virginia.

The hottest team in the conference continued its stretch with a sweep of Oklahoma in Stillwater on Monday. Among the most impressive aspects of the Cowboys has been the insertion of Rondel Walker in the lineup. Since Isaac Likekele went down with an injury, Oklahoma State has gone 5-0 with him out.

It was Kalib Boone that was the player of the game for the Cowboys, with an extremely efficient 8-9 from the field. His 17 points and nine rebounds on just 24 minutes make the performance even more impressive.

Cade Cunningham was not a huge impact from the field as he just 3-8. However, his nine free throws and seven rebounds were crucial nonetheless.

Two of the frontrunners for Big 12 POTY would collide on Thursday, with Cunningham facing off against Baylor’s Jared Butler.

Cunningham was not able to play in the first matchup in Stillwater, due to him being in COVID protocol. He got the green light in Waco and matched Butler, the entire night. He finished with 24 points on 10-19 shooting, with seven rebounds and four assists.

Boone played a solid game, with 10 points and four rebounds. However, no other Cowboy hit double figures as they coughed the ball up 18 times and got outrebounded 31-25.

Oklahoma State’s season finale would be a road game, against West Virginia.

What Oklahoma State did to West Virginia, might be the best performance of the season for Mike Boynton’s squad. Without Cunningham, the Cowboys traveled to Morgantown and upset No. 6 West Virginia.

Oklahoma State was poor from beyond the arc and 28.6% and turned the ball over 20 times. However, they won the rebounding battle and got a career-high 31 points from Avery Anderson III.

Even with the Baylor loss, Oklahoma State has a ton of momentum, as they head into the Big 12 Tournament.