Cowboys Put Up Fight in Loss to Defending National Champion

Friday, November 23

Orlando, FL

10:30 a.m.

Oklahoma State University

3-2

Villanova

4-2

Villanova

Oklahoma State

Cowboys Put Up Fight in Loss to Defending National Champion

November 23, 2018 | Cowboy Basketball

Box Score

Box Score
Postgame Notes
Season Statistics

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL.—The Oklahoma State men's basketball team lost, 77-58, to defending national champion Villanova in the semifinals of the AdvoCare Invitational on Friday.

Mike Cunningham led the Cowboys' (3-2) efforts with 15 points and three rebounds. Cunningham's performance came primarily via shots from distance. He made five 3-point shots on 10 attempts from 3-point range.

The Wildcats (4-2) featured lights out shooting, especially from Eric Paschall, who shot 8-for-13 from the field. He also made six 3-pointers on 10 attempts from beyond the arc.

As a team, the Wildcats made 16 3-pointers. That mark broke the record for most 3-point shots made in a game in AdvoCare Invitational history.

The Cowboys did not give up against Villanova, matching the Wildcats' second-half runs and nearly matched Villanova in the second half of play. The Cowboys also dominated bench points 32-8 and points in the paint 26-12. The Wildcats' hot hands from deep were too much to overcome.

Thomas Dziagwa shot 3-for-7 from deep against the defending national champions. Overall this season, the sharpshooter from Florida is 20-for-34 (58.8 percent) from 3-point land. He also added a career-high five assists.

Yor Anei scored nine points on a perfect 4-for-4 shooting. In his two games at the AdvoCare Invitational, Anei has put up 21 points, eight rebounds and six blocks.

Oklahoma State awaits the winner of LSU and Florida State to play in the third-place game at 3 p.m. on Sunday. The game will be broadcasted on ESPN2 and updates can also be found on Twitter @OSUMBB.