TULSA, Okla. (AP) — Damari Alston ran for two touchdowns, Baylor Hayes passed for another score, and Tulsa upset Oklahoma State 24-10 on Saturday to spoil the debut of Cowboys coach Eric Morris.
Alston's 29-yard burst around left end gave the Golden Hurricane a two-touchdown advantage with 8:38 left, and Tulsa intercepted quarterback Drew Mestemaker twice after that to preserve a second straight win in the series for the first time since 1952.
“It's a big win, obviously, to beat those guys two times back-to-back, a new head coach,” coach Tre Lamb said. “I think our crowd was the difference. I really think playing that game at home gave us a big advantage on defense. I know it was probably a little more orange than blue, but I could feel our support.”
Oklahoma State has lost 12 straight dating to last season.
“First of all, just hats off to Tulsa,” Morris said. “We got outcoached today, we got outplayed, we got outphysicaled, we got outschemed, so many different levels. They just beat us. We never were able to capture any kind of momentum in this game.”
Hayes passed for 227 yards and Alston gained 73 yards on 15 carries to lead the offense, but it was the defense that forced four turnovers and stopped the Cowboys four times on fourth down.
The Golden Hurricane limited Mestemaker, the highly touted transfer from North Texas, to 81 yards passing in the first half. He finished with 241 yards, completing 29 of 49 attempts.
“It sucked, honestly," Mestemaker said. “That wasn't our brand of football that we play, and everyone knows that, so it sucked not getting rolling. I've got be better, first of all. I definitely didn't play my best game. We've got to go watch the film, because that's not us."
Hayes completed 10 of 14 passes for 170 yards before the break, including a 47-yard pass to Jimmy Calloway that set up a 1-yard run by Alston to give Tulsa a 10-3 lead at the break.
A pass interference call gave Oklahoma State a first down on the Tulsa 19-yard-line with time winding down in the third quarter. Three plays later, Mestemaker found 6-foot-5 Justin Bowick in the corner of the end zone for a touchdown to pull the Cowboys within 17-10.
The takeaway
Oklahoma State: The Cowboys will have to eliminate the mistakes to compete.
Tulsa: The Hurricane failed to convert two fumble recoveries into points when kicker Marlon Hauck missed field goals.
Wrecking ball
Defensive end Thomas Davis led the Tulsa assault on Mestemaker and the Oklahoma State offense with a sack, a forced fumble and a tackle for loss and had four of the unit's 10 quarterback hits.
Tough luck
Oklahoma State offensive tackle Jacob Sexton, a transfer from Oklahoma, was taken off on a cart after suffering an apparent leg injury on Oklahoma State's first possession. Sexton missed much of his time with the Sooners due to injury.
Up next
Oklahoma State: Hosts No. 2 Oregon on Saturday.
Tulsa: At Sam Houston on Saturday.
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