COLLEGE STATION, Texas- Oklahoma State's explosive offense came crashing back to earth Thursday night. After scoring 118 points in its previous game, the Cowboys struggled to find their shooting touch against Texas A&M, falling 88-69 to the Aggies in their first loss of the season.

Oklahoma State (2-1) shot just 30.3% from the field and 20% from three-point range, connecting on only six of its 30 attempts from beyond the arc. Texas A&M, meanwhile, shot 51% overall and knocked down 12 of 25 three-pointers. The difference in offensive efficiency proved too much for the Cowboys to overcome.

Texas A&M Takes Control

Oklahoma State briefly led 15-14 with 13:13 remaining in the first half, but the Aggies seized control and never trailed again. Texas A&M carried a 50-37 advantage into halftime before extending its lead to 56-39 early in the second half behind consecutive three-pointers from Zach Clemence.

The Cowboys managed to fight back. After trimming the deficit to 10 earlier in the half, Oklahoma State received consecutive three-pointers from Kanye Clary, cutting Texas A&M's advantage to 68-60 with 9:58 remaining.

For a moment, the Cowboys appeared capable of making things interesting. But the Aggies responded with seven consecutive free throws, pushing their lead back to 15. Later, three-pointers from Rylan Griffen and Jordan Pope extended the advantage to 81-64 with 5:31 remaining.

Texas A&M eventually led by as many as 21 points before securing the 19-point victory. PJ Haggerty led the Aggies with 22 points, while Pope contributed 14 points and six assists. Josh Irving added a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

Cowboys Generate Chances but Cannot Convert

Despite their offensive struggles, Oklahoma State found ways to create additional possessions. The Cowboys grabbed 20 offensive rebounds compared to Texas A&M's 11 and scored 26 points off 19 Aggies turnovers. Oklahoma State also held a 15-13 advantage in second-chance points, while both teams finished with 38 rebounds.

But those opportunities weren't enough to overcome the Cowboys' inability to consistently make shots. Oklahoma State finished just 20-for-66 from the field and recorded 11 assists on its 20 made baskets.

Clary led the Cowboys with 14 points, followed by Kashie Natt with 12. Anthony Felesi contributed 10 points and a team-high eight rebounds. The Aggies, meanwhile, finished with 17 assists and received contributions throughout their rotation.

Clary Continues Working Into Larger Role

Clary's performance was another notable development for Oklahoma State. After beginning the season on a minutes restriction during the Cowboys' first two games, Clary played a larger role Thursday, finishing with a team-high 14 points.

However, his offensive production came on 3-for-13 shooting, including 3-for-10 from three-point range. His consecutive second-half three-pointers briefly gave Oklahoma State momentum, but the Cowboys couldn't sustain their comeback. As Clary continues adjusting to a larger workload, his offensive efficiency will be worth monitoring.

Extended Break Precedes Offensive Struggles

Oklahoma State also entered Thursday's matchup following a six-day break between games. The Cowboys had not played since last Friday's 118-68 victory over Queens, when they connected on 16 three-pointers and recorded 30 assists.

Against Texas A&M, those numbers dropped to six made threes and 11 assists. While the extended layoff may have affected Oklahoma State's offensive rhythm, the shooting struggles cannot be attributed to the schedule alone. Texas A&M's defensive pressure and efficient perimeter shooting presented a significantly different challenge than the Cowboys faced in their opening two games.

For Steve Lutz and Oklahoma State, the loss provides an early measuring stick against power-conference competition. The Cowboys showed they could generate extra possessions and battle on the offensive glass, but converting those opportunities and defending the perimeter will be priorities moving forward.

And after an evening that also saw No. 19 Oklahoma State women's basketball fall to Tulsa in overtime, Thursday proved to be a difficult night for both programs.

Source: Yahoo Sports