With 6:21 left in the first half and with Oklahoma State trying to build onto an eight-point lead, Rondel Walker played cornerback and picked off a Mike McGuirl pass.
Walker drove down the court with fellow freshman Cade Cunningham trailing him. As Walker neared the Cowboys basket, a Kansas State defender closed in on him, so he tossed it up to Cunningham, who put Kansas State’s Rudy Williams on a poster for an and-one dunk.
This was just one of three steals Walker had in key moments for the Cowboys in his first career start.
With junior point guard Isaac Likekele only available in an emergency capacity due to a foot injury, freshman spark plug Walker was tabbed as a starter for Saturday’s matchup against Kansas State.