AUSTIN, Texas —- No. 11 Texas handed Oklahoma State a 77-74 defeat in their Big 12 conference matchup on Sunday. The Cowboys, who suffered a close 77-76 defeat at home to TCU last Wednesday, were starting league play 0-2 for the second season in a row. BOX SCORE
Greg Brown Double-Double Leads Way For Texas
Freshman Greg Brown recorded his second successive double-double with 24 points and 14 rebounds – to set season bests for both – and helped Texas start conference play with a victory. He also blocked three shots in the game.
Brown, who shot 7 of 14 from the field, including two 3-pointers during a 17-0 Texas run in the second half, made four free throws during the final 37 seconds as the Longhorns (7-1, 1-0 Big 12) survived a late Oklahoma State rally.
“My teammates have been helping me find my rhythm, helping me find my spots, and just teaching me the game of basketball,” Brown said. “My teammates are helping me be more patient, saying ‘slow down, Greg.’ “
RECAP & HIGHLIGHTS – No. 9 Creighton Edges UConn 76-74 In OT
Andrew Jones added 22 points on 8 of 17 shooting to tie his career-best and had seven rebounds and four assists, while Matt Coleman II ended with 15 points seven rebounds, four assists and two steals for the Longhorns, which shot 38.1% as a team.
Courtney Ramey, who leads the team in scoring at 15.0 points per game – went 0 for 6 from the field without a point on Sunday before fouling out after playing 31 minutes.
Cunningham 25pts Not Enough For Oklahoma State
Meanwhile, freshman Cade Cunningham paced Oklahoma State with 25 points, but he didn’t get much support.
“I wish I could get going earlier,” Cunningham said after failing short of helping the Cowboys erase what was once a 13-point deficit in the second half.
Brown, who was motivated to play against Cunningham, a projected NBA No. 1 draft pick, said there were a few exchanged words.
But it was all fun and game.
“Of course there was trash talk,” Brown said. “I love Cade. That’s my dog. Two great players going at it. We’re brothers off the court but enemies on the court.”
Bryce Williams, who made two 3-pointers in the final 25 seconds to cut the deficit to two points, finished with 13 points for the Cowboys (6-2, 0-2).
Avery Anderson III had 11 points, six rebounds and three steals.
Oklahoma State shot 47.5% from the floor, but were 5 for 17 from 3-point range in the defeat, as Longhorns outrebounded the visitors 44-38.
“Defense is one thing that travels, and one thing we can control,” Texas coach Shaka Smart said. “You can’t control making shots all the time. But we can definitely control our effort on the defensive end.”
UP NEXT
Oklahoma State will next play at No. 14 Texas Tech on Jan. 2, which will be the Cowboys’ second straight game against a ranked team.
The Longhorns will next entertain Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Dec. 29.
OKLAHOMA ST. (6-2)
Moncrieffe 3-8 0-1 6, Anderson 4-8 2/3 11, C.Cunningham 9-19 6-8 25, Likekele 3-5 0-0 6, Ke.Boone 3-7 1-2 8, B.Williams 4-6 3-4 13, Walker 0-2 1-2 1, Ka.Boone 2/3 0-1 4, Flavors 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 28-59 13-21 74.
TEXAS (7-1)
Brown 7-14 7-11 24, Sims 1-1 0-0 2, Coleman 2-11 9-10 15, A.Jones 8-17 3-3 22, Ramey 0-6 0-0 0, K.Jones 2-6 1-2 6, D.Williams 3-6 0-0 6, Hamm 1-1 0-0 2, B.Cunningham 0-0 0-0 0, Hepa 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 24-63 20-26 77.
Halftime–Oklahoma St. 34-29. 3-Point Goals–Oklahoma St. 5-17 (B.Williams 2-3, Anderson 1-2, Ke.Boone 1-4, C.Cunningham 1-6, Flavors 0-1, Walker 0-1), Texas 9-27 (A.Jones 3-6, Brown 3-7, Coleman 2-6, K.Jones 1-3, Hepa 0-1, D.Williams 0-1, Ramey 0-3). Fouled Out–Anderson, Ramey. Rebounds–Oklahoma St. 35 (Likekele 9), Texas 42 (Brown 14). Assists–Oklahoma St. 7 (C.Cunningham 3), Texas 9 (Coleman, A.Jones 4). Total Fouls–Oklahoma St. 19, Texas 23. A–2,428 (16,540).
