Cowboys Struggle Shooting in Loss at Utah
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Ezra Ausar had a season-high 21 points, sophomores Keanu Dawes and Jake Wahlin both scored a career-best 16, and Utah rolled past Oklahoma State 83-62 on Saturday night for its first Big 12 Conference victory.
Ausar made 7 of 12 shots from the floor and 7 of 8 free throws for the Utes (9-6, 1-3), who snapped a four-game losing streak in their first season after leaving the Pac-12 Conference. Wahlin hit all five of his shots with three 3-pointers and all three of his free throws. Dawes buried 8 of 10 shots off the bench and grabbed a game-high nine rebounds.
Bryce Thompson scored 16 on 7-for-13 shooting to lead the Cowboys (9-6, 1-3). Reserves Marchelus Avery and Brandon Newman scored 13 and 10, respectively.
Ausar scored six in the middle of a 12-0 run to begin the game and Utah never looked back. Ausar had back-to-back baskets, and Mike Sharavjamts buried a 3-pointer to push the Utes' lead to 21-6 with 12:49 left before halftime. Avery scored nine to help Oklahoma State get within 37-26 at the break.
Ausar scored four in a 6-0 run to begin the second half as Utah maintained a double-digit lead over the final 44:22. Ausar's layup with eight minutes remaining gave the Utes their largest lead at 74-48.
Utah outscored the Cowboys 46-24 in the paint and shot 56% from the floor. Oklahoma State shot 33% overall and missed 10 of 22 free throws.
Oklahoma State travels to play BYU on Tuesday. Utah travels to play TCU on Wednesday.