The orange-clad army in attendance rose from their seats and erupted as Joe Smith, son of Oklahoma State coach John Smith, pinned his opponent as the first period was nearing an end.
This moment, and the dual as a whole, was a ray of light in an otherwise dark day for the OSU community.
The Cowboys defeated Iowa State 22-15 at Gallagher-Iba Arena, on the 18th anniversary of one of the worst tragedies the University has endured.
Ten people involved with its basketball program died in a plane crash near Strasburg, Colorado, Jan. 27, 2001. A memorial honoring the fallen Cowboys, often referred to as the “Remember the Ten” memorial, sits in the lobby of Gallagher-Iba Arena, serving as a constant reminder of an event that even if they tried, the OSU community couldn’t erase from its memory.