West Virginia
Five Thoughts on Oklahoma State’s 70-66 Victory against West Virginia
BOX SCORE
GAME STORY
PHOTO GALLERY
STILLWATER — The Cowboys won’t go winless through a conference season.
Oklahoma State beat West Virginia 70-66 on Saturday in Gallagher-Iba Arena to secure the Pokes’ first league win. Here are five thoughts from a great game.
1. Victory
At long last, the Cowboys have won a Big 12 game.
There were plenty of spots where this game looked as if it was going to take a turn for the worse for OSU like all of the others, but the Cowboys just kept coming back.
West Virginia went on a 9-0 run midway through the second half to take a 50-46 lead. Recent games might’ve suggested that was the beginning of the end for the Cowboys, but they fought back with a run to tie it at 50.
Then Kerr Kriisa (who was Lubbock Lindy levels of on fire) hit back-to-back 3s to give the Mountaineers a six-point lead with about seven minutes to play. But the Cowboys again responded. The battle continued into clutch time, which we’ll get to, but every time the Cowboys got popped, they fired a return shot.
The team is still 1-6 in the Big 12, so I’m not going to make too big a deal about anything. But I will say it says a lot about the group that the Cowboys just keep fighting despite this season seeming doomed for outsiders since the Cowboys lost to Abilene Christian to start the year.
“It sure feels good to win,” OSU coach Mike Boynton said. “But the thing I’m most proud of, or really two things: one of the kids, who just keep showing up. The thing that I tell them is it’s hard to beat somebody who keeps showing up. It really is because the mindset is that at some point, the other person is not gonna show up. I’m proud of our kids for continuing to do the things that we’ve asked them to do even though they haven’t seen what they saw today, the fruits of that labor in a way that everybody can recognize as being a win.”
2. Brandon Garrison Is a Dawg
Only a freshman, Brandon Garrison did it all to lead his team to its first Big 12 win.
Garrison had 20 points, five rebounds, four assists, four steals and a block against West Virginia.
Even more impressive, the 6-foot-10 center with long arms went 8-for-10 from the foul line, including going 4-for-4 from the stripe in the final 1:30 of the game. He went to the line with 1:27 to play down 64-62 and got them both to tie it up. Then he returned to the stripe with 27 seconds to play with a 67-66 lead and hit two more to force the Mountaineers into a 3-point attempt on their ensuing possession, which they airballed.
He was also a team-best plus-nine in plus/minus, meaning the Cowboys were nine points better than the Mountaineers with Garrison on the floor.
Garrison has spent the past few games in foul trouble, playing only 11 minutes against TCU and 16 minutes against Kansas State. It was particularly paramount Saturday that he stayed out of foul trouble, as the Pokes were without Mike Marsh because of illness. So that left Garrison as the only true center on the roster. He didn’t have a single foul in his 35 minutes on the floor.
3. Working Inside Out
Garrison’s stat line already suggests the Cowboys worked the ball inside more, but it was evident even when plays weren’t starting with a Garrison low-post touch.
The Cowboys made it a point to get paint touches, and for the first time in Big 12 play, OSU outscored its opponent in the paint. The Pokes had 26 paint points to West Virginia’s 22.
The offense seemed at its best Saturday when Garrison would get the ball in the low post and could hit a slasher, rip a cross-court pass for an open 3 or just take it to whichever Mountaineer was guarding him. But the Cowboys also had success driving the baseline. That forced WVU to help off and OSU caught the Mountaineers in rotation quite a few times.
Even when those paint touches resulted in 3-point shots, it just felt more likely those shots were going to go in as opposed to 3-point attempts that stayed on the perimeter all possession.
4. Scoring in the Clutch
The final five minutes of games have been like the boogeyman for OSU basketball as of late, but not Saturday.
In their past two games, OSU was just a combined 1-for-10 from the field in the final five minutes. Their opponents (Kansas State and TCU), meanwhile, were 7-for-10 from the field. Well, Saturday, OSU was 3-for-6 (50%) from the field while holding WVU to 1-for-9 (11%). OSU also forced its way to the foul line eight times in the final five minutes and made seven of those shots.
OSU’s three made field goals in that stretch were all from 3. The first was John-Michael Wright hitting a triple off an Eric Dailey Jr. offensive rebound. Wright’s bucket cut WVU’s lead to 61-59 with 4:04 to play.
Then after the Mountaineers missed a 3, Garrison ripped down a board and pushed to up to Dailey, who threw a cross-court pass to Thompson on a fast break. Thompson didn’t have his best offensive outing and was 1-for-8 from the field when he caught Dailey’s pass, but confident as ever, Thompson pulled of from the corner and splashed down a 3 to give OSU a 62-61 lead with 3:24 to play.
After a bit of back and forth, the Cowboys were down 66-64 with a minute to play when Javon Small hit probably the toughest 3 of the bunch to give the Cowboys a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
“Today we kinda got over the hurdle,” Boynton said. “We can’t assume that it’s automatic now. The only thing that is automatic is age. I tell them all the time age is automatic, but growth is intentional. We have to grow from this the same way we grew from the last few losses.”
5. Mike Boynton Wins His Most Important Game of the Year
Earlier this week, Boynton called the Remember the Ten game the most important of the season because of its real-life impact on those involved.
He said even in the Cade Cunningham season, where OSU played in the conference tournament final and in the NCAA Tournament, that the Cowboys’ Remember the Ten win against Oklahoma was the most important.
Well, Boynton is now 6-1 in Remember the Ten games after Saturday’s win. His only loss in the game was to No. 3 Kansas in 2020. Other than that, he has beaten OU twice during R10 day, including the No. 4, Trae Young-led Sooners in 2018. Boynton’s Cowboys also beat South Carolina, Arkansas and Ole Miss — all part of the now-defunct Big 12-SEC Challenge.
“What I focused on was A, making sure our guys knew what this was about,” Boynton said. “And then making sure that we were also prepared to play against somebody today.
“… I tried to really focus on making sure that we didn’t get so wrapped up in the emotion of the game that we also didn’t prepare well. So there was a balance in doing both of those things.”
The Cowboys haven’t won enough during Boynton’s tenure, I’m not here to argue that. But, the man is a wizard in important games. He’s 6-1 in Remember the Ten games and 9-5 against the Sooners.
Bonus Thought: Javon Small Was V. Good
Even outside of his go-ahead 3 with less than a minute to play, Javon Small had him self a day.
A transfer point guard from East Carolina, Small had a 15-point, 12-rebound double-double, and he flirted with a triple double with his seven assists. It has to feel extra vindicating for Small because he missed a couple of shots late in OSU’s close losses, but Saturday, he was nails.
His feel for the game is so good — when to speed up, when to slow down. He knows how it will affect a defense if he takes a hard step or two one way. At 6-foot-3, he is also an incredible rebounder. He is good at anticipating where a miss is going to bounce off to. He had four rebounds in the final five minutes when his team needed them. Just winning play after winning play.
Mike Boynton’s Postgame News Conference
During the Gold-Blue spring game on Saturday, the West Virginia coaching staff named wide receiver Cyrus Traught the recipient of the 2026 Tommy Nikolich Award.
The award, which is always given out at the end of spring ball, recognizes a walk-on team member who has distinguished himself through his attitude and work ethic. The award is presented in memory of Tommy Nickolich, a former WVU player (1980-82) who passed away from cancer in 1983.
Traugh is a Parkersburg native and graduate of Parkersburg South High School. He began his career at Youngstown State before transferring back home to play for the Mountaineers last season. In his final year with the Penguins, he logged 36 receptions, 409 yards, and a team-leading five touchdowns, two of which came against Pitt.
During the 2025 campaign with the Mountaineers, he saw action against Robert Morris and Kansas, playing 10 snaps against the Jayhawks, but did not record any stats.
Head coach Rich Rodriguez has mentioned him twice this spring as someone who has been doing some good things and making progress. Wide receivers coach Ryan Garrett also showed him some love during his press conference last week.
The Mountaineers completely revamped the wide receiver room this offseason, upping the level of talent at both inside and outside receiver spots, but perhaps Traugh can work his way into the mix if he puts together a strong summer and fall camp. If he’s not a regular in the rotation, he’ll serve as a quality depth piece who can play special teams.
Past Nickolich Award winners:
2025: Clay Ash, RB
2024: Avery Wilcox, S
2023: C.J. Cole, WR
2022: Nick Malone, OL
2021: Graeson Malashevich, WR/H
2020: Osman Kamara, S
2019: Jake Abbott, LB
2018: Evan Staley, K
2017: Nick Meadows, LS
2016: Jon Lewis, DL
2015: Justin Arndt, LB
2014: Michael Calicchio, OL
2013: Connor Arlia, WR
2012: Tyler Anderson, DE
2011: Ryan Nehlen, WR
2010: Matt Lindamood, FB
2009: Josh Taylor, DL
2008: Adam Hughes, LS
2007: Andy Emery, LB
2006: Tim Lindsey, LS
2005: George Shehl, H/DB
2004: Jeff Noechel, LB
2003: John Pennington, WR
2002: Moe Fofana, RB
2001: Jeremy Knapp, TE
2000: Ben Collins, LB
1999: Bryan Lorenz, LB
1998: Mark Corman, TE
1997: David Lightcap, DB
1996: Matt Ceresa, OL
1995: Rob Keys, DB
1994: Randy Fulmore, DB
1993: Matt McCulty, WR
1992: Brett Parise, WR, Ray Wilcox, LB
1991: Keith Taparausky, RB
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West Virginia offers deep river gorges, Appalachian mountain trails, and museums covering several layers of regional history. Day trips can lead to quirky stops like the legends at the Mothman Museum or haunting tours through a historic asylum. Other stops highlight art and science, with hands-on exhibits at the Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences and wide-ranging collections at the West Virginia State Museum. Places like Beech Fork State Park and Babcock State Park show off the landscapes that make West Virginia a rewarding place to drive through. Below are 12 day trips worth the drive, starting from Charleston and Huntington.
Starting City: Charleston
Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences (Within the City)
This 240,000-square-foot facility opened in 2003 and combines art exhibits with STEM experiences across multiple museums and theaters. The Avampato Discovery Museum is the child-facing centerpiece, with climbing sculptures, a music studio, a Space Lab for designing rockets, and a Wild Kratts Ocean Adventure covering various ocean ecosystems. The Caperton Planetarium & Theater handles night-sky programming. The other two anchors are the Juliet Art Museum with its Interactive Art Space and the Maier Performance Hall, which hosts performances from the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra and visiting jazz ensembles.
West Virginia State Museum (Within the City)
The state museum dates to 1890 and was previously known as the West Virginia Science and Culture Center. It covers history, art, culture, paleontology, and archaeology across its galleries. The Discovery Rooms walk visitors through the prehistory of West Virginia, life on the Appalachian frontier, and John Brown’s 1859 raid on Harpers Ferry, which helped ignite the American Civil War. Additional rooms cover West Virginia’s 1863 statehood (the state was carved from Virginia during the war) and its long heritage as a coal-mining state. Interpretive reconstructions throughout the museum recreate West Virginia landmarks including a classic soda shop, Harpers Ferry, and a coal mine.
Capitol Market (Within the City)
The Capitol Market in the heart of Charleston has been widely recognized as one of the best local shopping centers in the state. Set in a historic train depot, it houses produce merchants both indoors and outdoors. Inside, Johnnie’s Fresh Meat Market handles meat, Mea Cuppa Coffeebar pours coffee, and Bogey’s serves BBQ, fire-roasted corn, and homemade coleslaw. The outdoor section is where shoppers find flowers and greens from greenhouses like Bostic and Evans, along with fresh fruit and vegetables from Robbie’s Produce out of Sissonville, West Virginia.
Kanawha State Forest (15 Minutes)
West Virginia is one of the most heavily forested states in the country, with forest covering roughly 79% of its total land area. That reality is easy to experience 15 minutes south of Charleston at Kanawha State Forest. At 9,300 acres, the forest was once a logging and mining site before the West Virginia Conservation Commission purchased it and converted it to public land. There are more than 60 miles of hiking and biking trails, with strong wildflower viewing in spring and reliable bird sightings, including 19 species of wood warblers during migration. Davis Creek offers fishing opportunities with wheelchair-accessible piers.
Mothman Museum (1 Hour)
West Virginia has its share of cryptid legends, and the state’s most famous is Mothman, first sighted around Point Pleasant in November 1966 and described as a winged figure with glowing red eyes. The Mothman Museum in Point Pleasant calls itself the world’s only museum dedicated to Mothman, with collected newspaper clippings, eyewitness accounts, and props from the 2002 film The Mothman Prophecies. Visitors can take pictures next to the nearby Mothman Statue or pick up Mothman-inspired shirts and souvenirs. The museum also runs the Mothman ’66 Escape Room and a Mothman Blacklight Mini-Golf course, both fit for families willing to lean into the spookier side of the legend.
Hawks Nest State Park (1 Hour)
Hawks Nest State Park covers 270 acres along the cliffs above the New River. The water below produces fast rapids popular with experienced whitewater rafters. Away from the rapids, the park offers a scenic overlook down to the New River Gorge Bridge and 8 miles of hiking trails climbing up into the mountains. Hawks Nest Lake holds bass for anglers, though swimming is not allowed in the lake (the park has a separate pool and splash pad). Like many West Virginia parks, it was initially developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, and the Hawks Nest Park Museum covers that history.
New River Gorge National Park and Preserve (1 Hour, 15 Minutes)
A few more minutes’ drive from Charleston takes you down into the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. The gorge was carved by the New River, which, despite its name, is actually one of the oldest rivers in North America at roughly 260 million years old. The gorge is the deepest in the Appalachian Mountains, with 1,000 feet of exposed sandstone and shale cliffs. Those cliffs support more than 1,600 established climbing routes, drawing climbers year-round. Hikers have nearly 100 miles of trails to choose from, along with scenic drives, whitewater rafting, and fishing access.
Babcock State Park (1 Hour, 30 Minutes)
Babcock State Park’s signature landmark is the Glade Creek Grist Mill, a working mill built in 1976 from parts of three historic West Virginia mills, most notably Cooper’s Mill, which had been destroyed by fire decades earlier. The mill is one of the most-photographed spots in the state. Beyond the mill, the park has more than 20 miles of hiking trails winding up into the Appalachian hills, and Boley Lake offers paddle boat, rowboat, and canoe rentals at the marina. Geocachers have left trinkets throughout the park, especially near Glade Creek Waterfall.
Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum (1 Hour, 45 Minutes)
Construction on the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum began in 1858, and it opened in 1864 during the Civil War to house psychiatric patients. At 1,300 feet long, it remains one of the largest hand-cut stone masonry buildings in the United States. Originally designed to hold up to 250 patients under the 19th-century Kirkbride Plan, which emphasized natural light, air, and space, the asylum eventually housed as many as 2,400 patients at a time, with the crowding leading to documented abuses. It also housed Union and Confederate troops during various Civil War raids. The asylum closed in 1994 and now offers historical tours Tuesday through Sunday, with separate ghost tours available in the evening.
Starting City: Huntington
Huntington Museum of Art (Within the City)
At nearly 60,000 square feet, the Huntington Museum of Art is the largest art museum in West Virginia. The collection is eclectic, spanning fine paintings alongside decorative crafts. The Touma Gallery displays Middle Eastern pottery, metalwork, and woodwork including pieces from Damascus, Syria. The Herman P. Deans Firearms Collection covers early firearms and crossbows as examples of historic craftsmanship. On the grounds, West Virginia’s only plant conservatory showcases tropical and subtropical species, and 6 miles of hiking trails run through forested hills.
Heritage Farm Museum & Village (Within the City)
The Heritage Farm Museum & Village was the first Smithsonian Affiliate in West Virginia, recognized for its hands-on approach to Appalachian pioneer history. A former farmhouse converted into a multi-museum pioneer village, it covers specific aspects of Appalachian life across several buildings. The Progress Museum focuses on 1850s Appalachian settler life, while the Transportation Museum covers the railroad and frontier wagons. The Country Store Museum recreates a 19th-century general store, and the Children’s Hands-On Activity Center lets kids try 19th-century chores. A Treehouse Trek trail on canopy bridges rises 60 feet above the forest and ends at a large treehouse.
Beech Fork State Park (30 Minutes)
Less than half an hour from Huntington, the 3,000-acre Beech Fork State Park sits on Beech Fork Lake, a reservoir built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for flood control on Twelvepole Creek. The park’s 31 miles of shoreline support canoes, kayaks, johnboats, and paddle boards, rentable at the dock. Fishing includes largemouth bass, hybrid striped bass, catfish, and bluegill, with a valid West Virginia fishing license required. Hiking trails wind around the lake and up to overlooks.
There’s A Lot To See On These Country Roads
John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads” is still the most familiar song about West Virginia’s winding mountain roads, and along those roads are picturesque stops ranging from the Clay Center in Charleston to the Heritage Farm Village near Huntington. For travelers drawn to darker history, the Mothman Museum and the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum preserve the stranger and more haunting side of the state. All of these sites sit within an easy day-trip radius of Charleston or Huntington, so the drive itself becomes part of the experience.
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