'A Tremendous Step Forward:' Coach Steve Lutz On OSU's Season Opening Win

Oklahoma State overcame a tight first half to defeat Green Bay 89-76 in the season opener under new head coach Steve Lutz.

"I thought that was a great step forward of getting Cowboy basketball and GIA back to being the rowdiest arena in the country," said Lutz.

Bryce Thompson led the Cowboys with 22 points, while Abou Ousmane added 16 points and 8 rebounds. Davonte "Devo" Davis and Marchelus "Chi Chi" Avery each contributed 10 points.

Green Bay, led by Anthony Roy's 27 points and Marcus Hall's 21, started strong, hitting 9 of their first 14 three-pointers. But after a 39-38 halftime deficit, OSU surged with a 19-3 run in the second half, stretching the lead to as much as 22 points.

OSU shot 42% from the field, hitting 10 of 22 three-pointers and 21 of 24 free throws. They dominated the boards (43-25) and controlled second-chance points (20-4), thanks to a 19-3 edge in offensive rebounds. Green Bay shot 49% from the field and 14-of-31 from deep, but attempted 18 fewer shots and 8 fewer free throws.

The Cowboys capitalized on 19 Green Bay turnovers, scoring 27 points off them, and recorded 11 steals as a team. Thompson’s three-pointer just before halftime gave OSU its first lead, and he added 13 points in the second half, including 3-of-3 from beyond the arc.