Cameron McGriff connected on 28 points as the Oklahoma State Cowboys upset Oklahoma, 83-66, Saturday in Stillwater  in the second round of Bedlam.

Kalib Boone added 14 points and Yor Anei contributed 10 points and 10 rebounds as OSU (14-13, 4-10 Big 12) continued the rise from their midseason slump. OSU has won four out of the last six games in the Big 12 since their 0-8 start in the conference.

“We’ve played nine out of 10 halves of really good basketball and we were headed toward nine of 11,” said OSU coach Mike Boynton. “I told them, ‘You’ve got to make a decision right now about how you want this to finish.’ Those guys, especially Cam McGriff, looked them in the eyes and said, ‘We’re going to get it done.’ He obviously led the charge on both ends of the court. Even though we scored over 80, our defensive rebounding was the key to the game.”

The loss was a blow to OU’s hopes of making the NCAA Tournament.

Will OU make the tournament?

“We’re going to worry about the next game like everyone,” said OU coach Lon Kruger. “Certainly it could go either direction for any team right now. Four games left in conference play and we have to have the attitude that each game is the one we have to win.”

Austin Reaves led Oklahoma (16-11, 6-8 Big 12) but Brady Manet managed only two points. Manek had 30 points against the Cowboys in the first meeting, a Sooner win.

“He’s a really good player, but he has some limitations and we needed to make him play to those limitations a little bit more,” Boynton said of Manek. “He shot eight shots, and only four of them from three and didn’t make any. It was because we had guys there pretty much every time he caught it.”

“I thought Oklahoma State was the aggressor and they were terrific in every way. I thought they were quicker in everything, especially in the last 30 minutes,” Kruger said.

The Cowboy defense also corralled OU’s Kristian Doolittle, who had 13 points.

“He had 13 points on 11 shots,” said Boynton.  “So, pretty inefficient for a guy who plays around the basket quite a bit. He was able to get to the free throw line and make up for it because there were a lot of fouls called in the game. He’s had an All-Big 12 type of year, he’s a really good player and a kid we have a lot of respect for. I’m glad that our senior responded and really carried us today, Cam McGriff did.”

McGriff was determined to win.

“Cam, for the better part of a month, has been our most consistent player quite honestly,” Boynton said. “Even in the games we haven’t won, he’s played the right way and the way that we need more guys to play like. It actually started the week heading into the last Bedlam matchup.

“He got pretty emotional in practice a couple times and let the guys know that he was going to lay it all on the line. He’s done that and I’m glad for him that his shot fell today. It started with his defense on Brady Manek; that was his assignment. I’m just really proud of him.”

OSU lost to No. 1 Kansas 58-83 Monday night in Lawrenceand they host Iowa State Saturday.

Oklahoma played Texas Tech Tuesday night and they will travel to West Virginia Saturday. Texas will play at Oklahoma next Tuesday night.