Florida Atlantic Defeats Oklahoma State in Charleston Classic Showdown
CHARLESTON, S.C. — In a thrilling matchup at the Charleston Classic, Florida Atlantic University (FAU) overcame Oklahoma State University (OSU) with an 86-78 victory on Thursday. KyKy Tandy led the Owls with a standout performance, scoring 21 points and fueling a late-game surge that secured the win.
This loss marks the second consecutive defeat for a Power Four team in the tournament, following Miami’s earlier setback against Drake. With this triumph, FAU improves to a 4-2 record and advances to the semifinals, where they will face off against Drake on Friday. Meanwhile, Oklahoma State, now sitting at 3-1, will compete against Miami in a consolation match.
The turning point in the game came with 4:38 remaining in the second half, when Leland Walker completed a three-point play, giving FAU its first lead since early in the game at 68-67. Tandy’s timely corner three-pointer capped an 11-1 run for the Owls, extending their lead to 75-68 with just over two minutes left. The Cowboys struggled offensively in the final minutes, going over five minutes without scoring until Brandon Newman’s late layup.
FAU capitalized on their free-throw opportunities, attempting 49 shots from the line, which contributed to foul troubles for the Cowboys, leading to three players fouling out. Notable performances for OSU included Khalil Brantley with 16 points and Robert Jennings II, who achieved a career-high 14 points along with 11 rebounds.
Despite trailing 39-34 at halftime, FAU’s resilience and ability to draw fouls proved decisive in the exciting contest.
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