Bryce Thompson scored 22 points to lead top-seeded Oklahoma State to a 71-60 victory over visiting Eastern Washington in the second round of the NIT on Sunday in Stillwater, Okla.
Thompson shot 8-for-16 from the field, including 6-for-11 from 3-point range, while Tyreek Smith added 11 points and 10 rebounds for the Cowboys.
Oklahoma State (20-15) will host second-seeded North Texas in the quarterfinals on Tuesday or Wednesday after the Mean Green beat third-seeded Sam Houston 75-55 later on Sunday.
John-Michael Wright chipped in 11 points for Oklahoma State, which has won four of its past five games.
The Cowboys shot 26-for-54 (48.1 percent) from the field, including 11-for-24 (45.8 percent) from 3-point range. Oklahoma State outrebounded the Eagles 38-31.
Eastern Washington (23-11) was led by Angelo Allegri’s 17 points and five rebounds, while Dane Erikstrup and Casey Jones added 14 and 10 points, respectively.
However, Steele Venters, Big Sky Conference’s Player of the Year who entered averaging a team-high 15.7 points per game, was held to two points on 1-for-10 shooting, including 0-for-8 from 3-point range.
The Eagles shot 22-for-57 (38.6 percent) from the field, including 9-for-31 (29 percent) from beyond the arc.
Trailing 45-30 with 17:31 left, Eastern Washington pulled to within 52-46 on Erikstrup’s layup with 10:17 to go. But the Cowboys countered with a 7-1 run to push their advantage to 59-47 on Moussa Cisse’s jumper with 8:06 remaining.
Eastern Washington didn’t get closer than nine the rest of the way.
After Allegri’s 3-pointer pulled the Eagles even at 21 all with 5:56 left in the first half, the Cowboys took control of the game for good by going on an 18-9 run to take a 39-30 halftime advantage.
Thompson scored 13 points and Smith had nine in the first 20 minutes for Oklahoma State.
Eastern Washington was led by Allegri’s 13 first-half points, while Erikstrup added seven.
–Field Level Media
