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Oklahoma State Basketball: Initial Reactions at halftime against Kansas

By Andrew Miller

Mar 4, 2017; Stillwater, OK, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Phil Forte III (13) dribbles while defended by Kansas Jayhawks guard Frank Mason III (0) during the first half at Gallagher-Iba Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rob Ferguson-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 4, 2017; Stillwater, OK, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Phil Forte III (13) dribbles while defended by Kansas Jayhawks guard Frank Mason III (0) during the first half at Gallagher-Iba Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rob Ferguson-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Oklahoma State basketball team is putting up a great fight against the no. 1 ranked Kansas Jayhawks tonight at Gallagher-Iba Arena.

The Oklahoma State basketball team only has one half of basketball left this season, and it comes against the no. 1 ranked Kansas Jayhawks. The first half saw an incredibly fast pace of play with both running liking to run in transition.

KU controlled the pace for most of the first half but the Cowboys also stuck around to hang with them. Head coach Brad Underwood knows he has to minimize the runs that the Jayhawks go on while creating some of his own for the Pokes.

The two point guards, KU’s Frank Mason III and OK State’s Jawun Evans, contributed value to their teams in different ways in the first half. However, both players were the focal points of their teams in the first half.

KU carried a 43-40 lead into halftime after Evans missed a three pointer to end the first half.

Now, let’s take a look at the initial halftime reactions for the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the Kansas Jayhawks.

Find a way to slow down Frank Mason III

It’s not easy to slow down the player that’s the favorite to win Player of the Year, but the Cowboys need to find a way if they want a chance to win. Mason III led the Jayhawks in scoring in the first half. He also tied for the most assists in the first for KU with three.

Whether it’s trying to tire him out, get him into foul trouble, or just find a way to get into his head, the Cowboys won’t find success until Mason III is not scoring at such a torrent rate.

Mason III finished the first half with 11 points and five rebounds.

Keep feeding Jawun Evans and Jeffrey Carroll

Evans and junior forward Jeffrey Carroll led the way in the first half for the Pokes with points combined. Carroll finished the half leading the Pokes in scoring with 14 points. Evans finished the half second in points for the Pokes with eight points. He also added eight assists.

OK State needs senior shooting guard Phil Forte to have a better performance in the second half since he finished with only two points on 25 percent shooting from the field.

KU shot 55.2 percent in the first half and Evans and Carroll are the biggest reasons why the Cowboys are still close in this game. The Cowboys are shooting just 41.2 percent from the field.

Party like it’s 2014, 2015, and 2016

Part of the reason the Pokes own such an impressive home winning streak against the Jayhawks is the fact that Gallagher-Iba Arena provides such a tough atmosphere for any team to win in. Even with a sub par team last season, the Pokes still handled the Jayhawks at GIA.

Next: Cowboys take on Arizona after defeating Nebraska

In the second half, head coach Brad Underwood needs to find a way to spark that energy from the Pokes to get a run going to put away the Jayhawks for good.

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