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I clearly didn’t fully recognize what I was being asked to recap when approached by our grand leader, because if I had been focused on the game vs what I was cooking I would have said:
Oklahoma State forced TCU into 22 turnovers and STILL played from behind the vast majority of the game.
But huge plays by Kaleb Boone and Rondel Walker in crunch time managed to put the Cowboys over the top in what the broadcast crew properly described as “another rock fight in the Big 12.”
TCU and OSU were a combined:
- 38-109 from the floor (35.8%)
- 13-39 from 3 (33.3%)
- 24-40 from the line (60%)
Keylan Boone went 0-pher from deep (0-7) after spending the last few weeks channeling Steph Curry on a good night, but gathered in a huge loose ball that led to the decisive play, which of course came at the free throw line with a guy who hadn’t attempted a free throw since 12/18:
"Rondel Walker has not attempted a free throw since December 18th. In fact, he's only attempted two free throws since Thanksgiving." #okstate
— Hunziker Bot (@HunzikerSays) January 20, 2022
Not surprisingly that was preceded by Tyreek Smith, who is 50% for the season from the line, converting two free throws. Prior to those four straight makes, OSU was 9-19 (47.4%) for the game.
Also, this...
Rondel Walker said he played the entire second half with only one contact. Said he got hit in the eye and didn't have time to replace it. #OkState
— Zachary Lancaster (@zlancaster91) January 20, 2022
TCU would get a break opportunity, but Kaleb Boone made up for his recent vanishing act with a huge block to keep it a one point deficit, giving Walker his chance after a 50/50 call went Oklahoma State’s way on a drive to the basket with 4.7 seconds remaining.
The difference in the game would ultimately be the Lizard People’s 22 turnovers. TCU was averaging just 14 per game coming in.
Mike Miles, one of the top guards in the conference and averaging 17 ppg, was largely ineffective other than hitting two consecutive bombs and couple of free throws.
To say this was important would be an understatement. Coming off the win at #1 Baylor it would have been incredibly disappointing to drop this one in front of a rather raucous GIA, but the Cowboys managed to pull it out at the end.
There is no rest for the weary as Boynton takes his crew on the road for their first rematch of Big 12 play in Austin vs the Longhorns Saturday afternoon, followed a week from tonight by Iowa State in GIA.
GO POKES!!!