Kansas vs OSU: A History of Upsets

In recent years, the Oklahoma State Cowboys and Kansas Jayhawks' biannual contests have surprisingly generated one of the conference's most competitive rivalries. Even in their off years, the Cowboys have been able to hang with the consistently talented Jayhawks, especially when at home. In anticipation of the Cowboys' showdown against the No. 3 Jayhawks, let's take a look at the Cowboys' four most recent upset victories over Kansas.

Feb. 27, 2010

No. 1 Kansas (27-2) vs OSU (20-8)

For the first time in 21 years, the Oklahoma State Cowboys upset a top-ranked team in a thrilling 85-77 victory over the Kansas Jayhawks. The red-hot Jayhawks came into the game on a 13 game winning streak, but ran into a feisty Cowboy team who shot the lights out. The Cowboys were hot from three point range, shooting 61 percent from beyond the arc. That statistic was driven mostly by the performance from long-distance specialist Keiton Page, who went 4-for-4 from downtown. Page scored 15, but Cowboy guard James Anderson led all scorers with a dominating 27 point performance. In spite of nagging back injury, Anderson not only filled every stat on the sheet, but also went 4-for-6 from the three point line. Forward Matt Pilgrim also had an impressive 18 point showing, going 8-for-8 from the field. In what was a season to remember, Anderson&Co.'s upset over the Jayhawks still serves as one of the more remarkable moments in recent Cowboy memory.

Feb 2, 2013

No. 2 Kansas (19-2) vs OSU (15-5)

Nobody thought that an unranked Cowboy squad would come in to Allen Fieldhouse and snap Kansas' 33 game home win streak, but no one accounted for freshman Cowboy phenom Marcus Smart. Smart led all scorers with 28 points, and also contributed nine rebounds, three assists and five steals. Markel Brown also scored 25 points, shooting 7-for-10 from the three point line. Despite shooting 23 percent from the field, freshman reserve Phil Forte made four crucial free throws down the stretch and officially sealed the win with a steal and a layup on the last possession. Jubilation immediately ensued, and Smart executed what is now known as the most famous backflip in Oklahoma State history.

March 3, 2014

No. 5 Kansas (22-7) vs Oklahoma State (19-10)

The Cowboys came into this contest only two games removed from a seven game losing streak, and somehow found a way to defeat the fifth-ranked Jayhawks 72-65. Although the Cowboy bench only contributed four points, OSU's three-headed monster of Le'bryan Nash, Marcus Smart and Markel Brown led the way, accounting for 58 of the Cowboys' points. Smart, who only scored one point in the first half, exploded after intermission with a 21 point showing. OSU held KU star Andrew Wiggins to a 5-for-16, six turnover performance. The Cowboys were able to play so well thanks in part to their 22-10 turnover margin advantage. With the victory, Smart secured his legacy at Oklahoma State as one of the best point guards to ever come through Stillwater.

February 7, 2015

No. 8 Kansas (19-4) vs Oklahoma State (16-7)

Fresh off of an upset victory against Texas in Austin, the Cowboys came back home to upset the eighth-ranked Jayhawks 67-62. The Cowboys, who trailed by 11 at halftime, held KU to 27 percent shooting in the second half. Senior forward Le'Bryan Nash led all scorers with 18 points. Phil Forte, the sharpshooting Cowboy shooting guard, came into the game with a case of the flu. Despite playing sick, and even throwing up hours before the game, Forte pitched in 13 points and three steals in the Cowboys' winning effort. Additionally, in spite of the fact that the Jayhawks outscored the Cowboys in bench points 18-4, four of the Cowboys' five starters scored in double figures. Along with Nash and Forte, guards Jeff Newberry and Anthony Hickey contributed 10 and 15 points, respectively. Senior Micheal Cobbins also tallied eight points and seven rebounds. To no one's surprise, Cowboy fans stormed the court, and the Cowboy victory provided the most memorable win of the 2015 season.

January 19, 2016

No. 3 Kansas (15-2) vs Oklahoma State (9-8)

The struggling Cowboys currently find themselves on a four game losing streak, while the third-ranked Jayhawks lead the Big 12 standings with a 4-1 conference record. The Cowboys are currently without a signature season victory, but a win over a ranked Kansas squad would help salvage what has been a disappointing season so far. OSU has proven that they can hang with talented teams at home, as they hung with current No. 1 Oklahoma in a tough 74-72 defeat. Whether or not the Pokes will pull off the upset is yet to be seen, but crazier things have happened.