CINCINNATI (Interstat) — Day Day Thomas scored 26 points and Moustapha Thiam added 24 as Cincinnati used a dominant first half to cruise past Oklahoma State 91-68 in a Big 12 Conference men’s basketball game Saturday afternoon at Fifth Third Arena.

A crowd of 9,993 watched the Bearcats seize control with a 51-point first-half explosion, building a commanding 18-point lead by intermission that the visiting Cowboys never seriously threatened. The victory improved Cincinnati to 16-13 overall, while Oklahoma State fell to 17-12.

The most important stretch of the game came in the opening minutes, as Cincinnati established an immediate and overwhelming tone. After Oklahoma State’s Andrija Vukovic opened the scoring with a layup, the Bearcats responded with a decisive 17-2 run over the next four and a half minutes. The surge was fueled by the inside-outside combination of Thiam, the 7-foot-2 center from Senegal, and Thomas, the electric guard. Thiam hit a pull-up jumper and a 3-pointer, while Thomas connected from deep and added a steal that led to another transition opportunity. By the first media timeout, Cincinnati led 17-4, and Oklahoma State was forced into early adjustments, searching for answers to the Bearcats’ offensive efficiency and defensive pressure.

Cincinnati’s offensive execution in the half was nearly flawless. The Bearcats shot 51.4% from the field and an impressive 41.2% from 3-point range before the break, sharing the ball for 11 assists on 18 made baskets. Thomas was the catalyst, scoring 15 of his points in the period, while Thiam poured in 16. Oklahoma State, meanwhile, struggled with Cincinnati’s length and activity, committing nine first-half turnovers that the Bearcats converted into 12 points.

The second half saw the Cowboys attempt to mount a challenge, cutting the deficit to 13 points on several occasions. A 3-pointer by Vyctorius Miller, who led Oklahoma State with 15 points, made it 68-55 with just over 13 minutes remaining. Each time, however, Cincinnati had a response, often from Thomas. He answered Miller’s triple with one of his own on the ensuing possession, part of his 4-for-9 shooting from beyond the arc for the game. The Bearcats’ lead never dipped below 15 points in the final nine minutes.

Beyond the scoring of Thomas and Thiam, Cincinnati received a well-rounded performance from forward Baba Miller, who filled the stat sheet with 11 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. Jizzle James and Jalen Celestine each added 11 points for the Bearcats, who finished the game shooting 47.1% from the field and 41.2% from 3-point range. They also won the battle on the glass, outrebounding Oklahoma State 41-30, including an 11-4 advantage on the offensive boards that led to 15 second-chance points.

Oklahoma State was led by Miller’s 15 points off the bench. Jaylen Curry and Kanye Clary each scored 11, while Vukovic contributed 10. The Cowboys shot 40.7% overall and were an efficient 17-of-20 from the free-throw line, but their 14 turnovers and inability to contain Cincinnati’s offensive rhythm proved too much to overcome. The Cowboys managed only six assists on 22 made field goals.

The game’s statistical profile underscored Cincinnati’s control. Despite an identical number of possessions (74) for each team, the Bearcats posted an offensive rating of 122.8, dwarfing Oklahoma State’s mark of 92.5. Cincinnati’s defense held the Cowboys to just 33.3% shooting from 3-point range.

The win was a bounce-back performance for Cincinnati, which had lost at Texas Tech earlier in the week, and for Thomas, who was held to six points in that contest. Oklahoma State saw a two-game winning streak snapped as it continues its push for postseason positioning.

Cincinnati next hosts BYU on Tuesday night. Oklahoma State travels to face UCF, also on Tuesday.