Drew Mestemaker, North Texas transfers fall short as Oklahoma State drops 24-10 stunner at Tulsa

TULSA, Okla. -- Oklahoma State's Drew Mestemaker and Caleb Hawkins had the hype.

Tulsa's Baylor Hayes and Damari Alston delivered the goods.

Hayes passed for 227 yards and a touchdown, Alston ran for 73 yards and two scores, and the Golden Hurricane upset the revamped Cowboys 24-10 on Saturday afternoon.

Oklahoma State was optimistic heading into the season. Mestemaker and Hawkins were the best of the players who joined coach Eric Morris in a mass exodus from a very successful North Texas program. The Cowboys have 21 players who played for Morris among 70 newcomers.

Despite all the changes and transfers, the Cowboys got roughly the same result against Tulsa as last year, when the Cowboys' loss to the the Golden Hurricane was the final straw that got longtime coach Mike Gundy fired. It's the first time since 1951 and 1952 that Tulsa has defeated Oklahoma State in consecutive years.

Tulsa had trouble putting Oklahoma State away, but the Cowboys helped.

Mestemaker threw an interception to Zach Williams in the end zone with just over four minutes remaining, then threw another interception in the final minute. The Cowboys turned the ball over four times and converted on just two of six fourth downs.

All was going well for the Cowboys until left tackle Jacob Sexton was carted off with a lower body injury in the first quarter. One of the Cowboys' three offensive captains, Sexton already had missed significant time in two previous seasons due to injury.

Mestemaker looked shaky in the first half, occasionally oveerthrowing receivers and having to deal with pressure throughout the first half.

Tulsa led 10-3 at halftime, and pushed the advantage to 17-3 on Oran Singleton's 21-yard touchdown pass from Hayes.

Mestemaker finally got it going late in the third quarter when he connected with Justin Bowick for a 16-yard touchdown that pulled the Cowboys within 17-10.

Mestemaker completed 29 of 49 passes for 241 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. Hawkins, who set an FBS freshman record with 29 total touchdowns last season, finished with 79 yards on 18 carries.

It doesn't get easier for Oklahoma State -- the Cowboys host Oregon next Saturday.