For the first time in nearly two years, Oklahoma State men's basketball has won a Big 12 game on the road. The Cowboys defeated Utah 81-69 on Saturday night in Salt Lake City, ending a 15-game road losing streak in conference play.

The last time OSU won a Big 12 road game was back when they beat Cincinnati 80-76. That win marked the final bright spot in a tough 2023-24 season for the Cowboys. Fast forward to this weekend, and the team, now coached by Steve Lutz, finally broke through with a strong performance against the Utes.

Key Performances

Leading the charge for OSU was Anthony Roy, who poured in 26 points. Christian Coleman added a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Parsa Fallah contributed 13 points, while Vyctorius Miller chipped in 10 points. Andrija Vukovic also made his first career three-pointer during the game.

The Cowboys (15-6 overall, 3-5 in Big 12 play) showed their offensive firepower once again. They are now 15-0 this season when scoring 81 points or more. The win also highlighted their ability to close out games when leading at halftime, as they improved to 12-1 when ahead at the break.

How the Game Played Out

The game was a back-and-forth battle in the first half. OSU gave up a 12-1 run but responded with an 11-0 run of their own to take a slim one-point lead into halftime. In the second half, the Cowboys' defense stepped up, and they pulled away in the final minutes to secure the victory.

Head coach Steve Lutz praised his team's resilience, saying, "We knew this was a must-win game for us, and the guys delivered. Our defense in the second half made all the difference."

Why It Matters

The win is a significant boost for OSU's NCAA Tournament hopes. After starting Big 12 play with a 2-5 record, the Cowboys were in danger of falling too far behind in the standings. Saturday's victory not only snapped the losing streak but also kept their postseason dreams alive.

Fans will be watching closely as the Cowboys face a tough stretch of games next week. OSU will host No. 13 BYU (17-4, 5-3) before heading on the road to take on No. 1 Arizona (22-0, 9-0). Both matchups will be critical as the team looks to build momentum heading into the latter part of the season.

Looking Ahead

For now, though, the Cowboys can savor this long-awaited road win. It’s been a tough stretch for the team and their fans, but Saturday's performance showed the potential this squad has under Coach Lutz’s leadership. If they can keep up this level of play, there's no telling how far they might go this season.

As OSU prepares for its upcoming games, fans are encouraged to pack Gallagher-Iba Arena for the matchup against BYU. The Cowboys will need all the support they can get as they face one of the top teams in the conference.