STILLWATER — Year 1 of the Steve Lutz era of Oklahoma State basketball has ended.
Oklahoma State lost to North Texas 61-59 on Tuesday night in the quarterfinal round of the NIT. Here are five thoughts on the game.
1. It Was Ugly
OSU had 19 turnovers and was 9-for-16 from the free-throw line. That fact North Texas won by only two is somewhat impressive. It was gross.
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The Cowboys came in shooting 23.9 free throws per game, which ranks in the top 20 nationally. There weren’t many free throws to be had for either team early. North Texas wasn’t called for its second team foul until there was 4:10 left in the first half — going nearly 16 minutes with just one foul. The Cowboys didn’t get to the line at all in the first half.
They got there plenty late, though, shooting 13 in the final four minutes. They went 7-for-13 in that stretch. The crowd gave out a big applause when Brandon Newman made two in a row with 1:21 to play. It was the first time OSU made two in one trip to the foul line all night.
North Texas should get some credit in OSU’s offensive struggles. The Mean Green ranks third nationally in opponent points per game with solid defense and a slower tempo.
2. But Man, Did the Pokes Fight
With that being said, the Cowboys scratched, clawed, spit and gnawed off kneecaps all night long.
North Texas was up nine with 1:11 to play, and the Cowboys had a shot to win at the buzzer. That shouldn’t happen, but it did because OSU simply refused to die.
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That five minutes had to last 45 minutes because the Cowboys were dead set on dragging out this battle as long as possible, and they almost took North Texas to waters it wasn’t willing to go to.
“Man, I’ve been around basketball a long time,” Lutz said. “I’ve seen good and bad. I’ve seen good and bad with this team. Tonight, they gave 110% of their heart and soul to winning this game. We just came up short. We turned the ball over too much, and we didn’t make free throws.”
3. One Tough Break
Bryce Thompson hit a 3 with 5:17 to play that would’ve cut North Texas’ lead to 49-47, but a ref blew a whistle as he was going into his shooting motion, blowing the play dead before the shot.
The whistle was to adjust he clock — which is not a great reason to take 3 points off the board. Coming out of the whistle, OSU turned the ball over, and North Texas hit a 3 on the other end. Instead of 49-47, it was 52-44.
That’s brutal, but probably not brutal enough to look over 19 turnovers a 56% free-throw shooting.
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4. What Is It about This Third NIT Game?
This is the Cowboys’ third NIT journey in a row that ends in the quarterfinals — one game short of the final venue.
Back in 2023, the Cowboys also lost in the third round to North Texas. That game played out somewhat similarly to this one. It ended 65-59 in OT. Before that, back in Mike Boynton’s first season, the Cowboys lost to Western Kentucky in the quarters. Lutz wasn’t at WKU back then, but it is an odd coincidence that OSU hired a Western Kentucky coach.
The Cowboys’ goal is for this streak to stay here forever because they’d much rather make the NCAA Tournament, but man, this third NIT game has been tough to get past.
5. Crowd Was Great
The Gallagher-Iba Arena crowd saved its best for last.
This game shouldn’t have even happened here. A scheduling conflict meant the Mean Green couldn’t host. Side note: Could you imagine if North Texas lost this game at the buzzer after not finding a way to host? Yikes.
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Anyway, there were 4,089 listed in attendance, which isn’t the biggest crowd OSU has had this season, but the tarps were down in the 300 sections on three sides — pushing that 4,089 closer to the floor. It has me believing that OSU should find a time machine and go back to lower the roof. Crazy idea that structurally almost certainly wouldn’t work: Put a roof above the 200 sections, then use that space above for a new wrestling facility. The energy of having all those people close to the court was a notable difference.
Lutz had a nice message to the OSU faithful after the game.
“We’re going to be where we need to be — I have no questions about that,” Lutz said. “And it’s going to be sooner than later. Stick with us, support us and help us recruit because it’s gonna be a big spring and summer for us. …
“I’m confident as much today as I was April 5 of last year when Dr. (Kayse) Shrum and Chad (Weiberg) introduced me as this basketball coach that we’re gonna get where we need to go.”
Postgame News Conference
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We’ll have more in the coming days, putting a bow on OSU’s season and looking at the upcoming roster rebuild.
For the second time this year, we’ll see Oklahoma and Alabama face off in a pivotal showdown.
The Sooners (10-2) will host the Crimson Tide (10-3) for a College Football Playoff showdown Friday at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. The last time these teams faced off, Oklahoma came away with a 23-21 win over Alabama on the road.
Will Oklahoma once again topple Alabama? Here’s everything fans should know about Oklahoma-Alabama in the CFP:
How to watch Oklahoma-Alabama in the CFP
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When: 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19
Where: Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium (Norman, Oklahoma)
TV: ABC/ESPN Streaming: ESPN app
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A prime-time showdown
None of the four first-round College Football Playoff games overlap, but Alabama-Oklahoma really takes center stage.
With the other three games on Saturday, including Texas A&M-Miami, this game is the only one on Friday night and doesn’t overlap with any of Saturday’s NFL action like Tulane-Ole Miss and James Madison-Oregon do.
It shouldn’t be as cold as it has been lately in Norman, Okla., as early forecasts are expecting temperatures in the lower-50s and upper-40s on Friday. Combine that with a 7 p.m. kickoff that gives Oklahoma fans plenty of time to tailgate and get riled up for the game, and “The Palace on the Prairie” should be a sight to behold as it hosts its first CFP game.
Oklahoma-Alabama head-to-head
Oklahoma and Alabama have faced off eight times in the past. The Sooners lead the all-time series 5-2-1. As we mentioned above, Oklahoma won the latest matchup in the 2025 regular season.
Latest stories
— Can Oklahoma beat Alabama again in the CFP? History isn’t on its side
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— Five storylines for Oklahoma-Alabama: A shot at revenge, turnover battle and more
— 10 things to know about Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables as Sooners head to CFP
— Brent Venables’ aggressive defense gives Oklahoma different look than past CFP teams
— Final College Football Playoff bracket: See where Texas Tech, A&M and Oklahoma landed
Find more Oklahoma coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
Moccasin Bend Ranch, a residential treatment program in Wyandotte, has reopened after a remodel, expanding access to specialized mental health services for children ages 5 to 12. Leaders say the program fills a critical gap in Oklahoma, where options for young children needing higher levels of care remain limited.
A unique approach for younger children
Moccasin Bend Ranch is a 28 bed psychiatric residential treatment facility set on 12 wooded acres. The unlocked campus is designed to give children access to outdoor play and nature, something leaders say is essential for younger patients.
“This setting allows our kids to act like kids,” said Christina Holum, interim chief executive officer at Willow Crest Hospital and Moccasin Bend Ranch. “Watching them play gives us a renewed sense of purpose. We are confident this change will lead to better outcomes and happier, healthier children.”
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The ranch focuses exclusively on children, a distinction that sets it apart from many other programs across the state.
Why early treatment matters
Mental health leaders say many children referred to Moccasin Bend Ranch have already tried outpatient therapy and medication management without success. By the time families seek residential care, behaviors are often increasing in both frequency and intensity.
“If outpatient services are not working, families need somewhere to turn,” said Grant Linihan, vice president of business development for Vizion Health, which owns the facility. “If our program was not available, these, kids, where are they going to go to get treated?”
Linihan and Holum say early intervention can help children develop coping skills and emotional regulation before problems follow them into adolescence and adulthood.
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Inside the treatment program
Children at Moccasin Bend Ranch receive a full schedule of therapeutic services, including individual therapy, family therapy and group sessions. The program also emphasizes recreational and expressive therapies to help children process trauma and build skills in a developmentally appropriate way.
Staff members work with families to plan for discharge, aiming to ensure continuity of care once a child returns home.
Making the holidays feel normal
For some children, the holiday season can be especially difficult. Leaders say the ranch makes a point to celebrate milestones and traditions, even while children are in treatment.
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The facility hosts holiday meals, seasonal activities and visits from community volunteers, including a volunteer Santa. Children are also taken to see nearby holiday light displays.
“We try to get them to reshape their minds,” Linihan said. “Even though you’re with us, this is still going to be a joyous time for you.”
A broader mental health need in Oklahoma
Mental health providers say the need for pediatric services is tied to broader challenges across the state, including limited funding and access to care. They note that untreated mental health issues in childhood can contribute to long term struggles later in life.
“There will always be a need for this type of service for a certain group of children,” Holum said. “If they cannot get help early, their prognosis becomes much worse.”
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How families can get help
Families who are concerned about a child’s mental health can contact Willow Crest Hospital or Moccasin Bend Ranch for a free phone intake. Staff members can help parents determine whether residential treatment is appropriate or if outpatient care may still be an option.
Willow Crest Hospital, also operated by Vizion Health, is a 50 bed acute inpatient psychiatric facility in Miami serving adolescents ages 9 to 17. Together, the programs serve families from across Oklahoma, including hundreds of children from Tulsa County each year.
For more information, families can call (918) 542-1836 to speak with an intake specialist. You can also find their website here.
Bob Stoops’ coaching career appears to be over. For real, this time.
The former Oklahoma football coach, who led the Sooners to a national championship in 2000, said Monday he would be retiring from coaching. Stoops had spent the previous three years as coach of the the United Football League’s Arlington Renegades.
“After much thought and reflection, I’ve made the decision to retire from coaching and step away from the game of football,” Stoops said in a statement released by the UFL. “Coaching has been one of the greatest honors of my life, and closing this chapter comes with lots of gratitude. …Thank you for allowing me to be part of this incredible game for so many years.”
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Stoops’ first and only head-coaching job at the Division I level came at Oklahoma. He took over ahead of the 1999 season and stayed through 2016. OU went 190-48 overall while only suffering three-or-more defeats in Big 12 play four times. The Sooners’ 2001 Orange Bowl win capped 13-0 season and gave Oklahoma its first national title since 1985.
A native of Youngstown, Ohio, Stoops took over coaching Oklahoma after serving three years as Florida’s defensive coordinator. He retired from job at OU in June 2017, but lasted less than two calendar years as he was drawn to coaching the Dallas Renegades in the XFL.
The league folded in part because of the COVID pandemic before OU called on him again to serve as interim coach for the 2021 Alamo Bowl after Lincoln Riley left to coach Southern California. After that, he rejoind the Renegades, now rebranded as the Arlington Renegades in the UFL.
