OSU Dominates No. 25 UCF 87-76 in Defensive Masterclass

Clary's near triple-double guides Cowboys to breakthrough victory

Daniel Allen

Jan 07, 2026 - 4 min read

Oklahoma State point guard Jaylen Curry (0) drives against a UCF defender during the Cowboys' 87-76 victory over the No. 25 Knights Tuesday night at Gallagher-Iba Arena. Curry's defensive intensity, including a key steal and transition layup, helped set the tone in OSU's first Big 12 win of the season. – Photo Courtesy OSU Athletics

OSU Dominates No. 25 UCF 87-76 in Defensive Masterclass — Oklahoma State point guard Jaylen Curry (0) drives against a UCF defender during the Cowboys' 87-76 victory over the No. 25 Knights Tuesday night at Gallagher-Iba Arena. Curry's defensive intensity, including a key steal and transition layup, helped set the tone in OSU's first Big 12 win of the season. – Photo Courtesy OSU Athletics

Steve Lutz marveled over an unfamiliar sight.

OSU point guard Jaylen Curry stole a pass, jolted to the hoop to finalize a transition layup with relative ease. But it wasn’t the steal-and-score that made Lutz’s eyes gleam. It was Curry’s defensive heroics that made Lutz’s beam with joy.

Oklahoma State defeated No. 25 UCF 87-76 on Tuesday at Gallagher-Iba Arena, and for perhaps the first time this season, the Cowboys were beneficiaries of sound defense. Curry’s defensive highlight was merely a personification of the night.

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