STILLWATER, Okla. — Oklahoma State coach Sean Sutton saw a different dynamic on his team with another close game coming down to the wire.

And this time, the Cowboys were able to defend their home court.

JamesOn Curry and Mario Boggan each scored 22 points to help Oklahoma State hold off a second-half rally by Northwestern State and avenge one of their most bitter losses from last season with a 79-76 win on Wednesday night.

“I’m proud of the fact that we hung in there in a tight situation and we won a close game. Last year we lost so many games like this,” Sutton said.

The Cowboys lost eight times by three points or less last season, and often would splinter when the game was on the line. But not this time.

“They were talking to each other, really encouraging each one another during the timeouts: ‘Stay positive, we’ve got to fight, we’re going to win this game, we’re going to make a play to win.’ Last year at times I think they were hoping to make those type of plays,” Sutton said.

“I wish the game had not been as close as it was. But the fact that it was and the fact that we were able to win, I think will be good for this team.”

Northwestern State (1-1) rallied from a 19-point deficit late in the first half to take the lead with 22-5 run shortly after halftime. Cody Bargeman scored eight points, including a pair of 3-pointers, during the surge and Jerry Moody put the Demons ahead 55-54 when he put back Marcellas Ross’ missed 3-pointer.

Oklahoma State pushed back for a 67-60 lead on Boggan’s two-handed dunk, but the Demons answered again when Trey Gilder hit a 3-pointer and then converted a steal into a dunk to tie it at 69.

But Gilder then missed two free throws and Northwestern State was unable to score on back-to-back possessions to let the Cowboys (2-0) take control again.

Boggan and freshman Obi Muonelo had back-to-back layups off assists from Curry to put Oklahoma State in front 73-69, and the lead reached five after two free throws from Muonelo with 2:39 remaining.

The Demons got back within 78-76 on Kennan Jones’ driving layup with 55 seconds to play and had a chance to tie it after Boggan hit only one of two free throws. Jones’ awkward shot from the right side missed and the Cowboys grabbed the rebound to prevent Northwestern State from upsetting them on their home court for the second straight season.

“We lost our intensity, we didn’t rebound as much on the defensive end in the second half and we let them get back in it,” Boggan said. “But the important thing is that we got the win.”

Northwestern State outrebounded Oklahoma State 25-15 in the second half, including 13 offensive boards.

“They whipped our tails on the offensive glass. They were more aggressive. I thought they were tougher getting to the basketball, and we had some balls pop out of our hands,” Sutton said. “But they’re a good team. I think that team’s going to win a lot of games.”

Bargeman scored 19 and Moody and Eric Woods each added 10 off the bench for the Demons, who ended Oklahoma State’s 44-game home winning streak against nonconference foes with a 68-64 win at Gallagher-Iba Arena last year. That Demons squad eventually made it to the NCAA tournament and upset third-seeded Iowa in the first round.

Only one starter returned from that team.

“The kids fought hard and they played through it, but we can’t accept losing,” Northwestern State coach Mike McConathy said. “This is the toughest venue in the country to play in and you’ve got to come in here and believe you can win. We came and competed, but you didn’t get it done so the next time you go, you’ve got to come back and do better.”

Northwestern State has played at Gallagher-Iba the past seven years and held Curry scoreless last year.

Curry scored 10 points during a 16-5 run that put the Cowboys up 31-17 with about 5 minutes to play in the first half. The lead reached 47-28 when Curry set up a basket by Marcus Dove, but the Demons started to rally after that.

“We had them on the ropes in the first half, and we should have just pounded, pounded, pounded,”

“I think JamesOn was very motivated tonight because he felt like that was his worst game of his entire career, not only at the college level but even going back to high school,” Sutton said.

NORTHWESTERN ST. (1-1) – Spencer 1-3 0-2 2, Thomas 0-4 2-2 2, Rogers 2-9 5-6 9, K.Jones 3-6 2-2 8, Bargeman 6-8 3-5 19, Gilder 3-8 2-6 9, McConathy 0-1 0-0 0, Woods 3-4 2-2 10, Hancock 1-1 1-1 3, Porterie 0-0 0-0 0, Moody 4-5 2-3 10, M.Ross 1-5 2-2 4. Totals 24-54 21-31 76.

OKLAHOMA ST. (2-0) – Boggan 7-9 8-11 22, Dove 3-6 1-2 7, Monds 2-5 2-4 6, Harris 0-4 3-4 3, Curry 7-16 5-7 22, Eaton 1-4 0-1 3, Muonelo 3-8 6-6 12, Hatch 0-0 0-0 0, Cooper 0-0 4-4 4. Totals 23-52 29-39 79.

Halftime–Oklahoma State 47-31. 3-Point Goals– Northwestern St. 7-15 (Bargeman 4-5, Woods 2-3, Gilder 1-1, M.Ross 0-2, Rogers 0-2, Thomas 0-2), Oklahoma St. 4-16 (Curry 3-8, Eaton 1-3, Dove 0-1, Monds 0-1, Muonelo 0-3). Fouled Out–Gilder, Harris, Spencer. Rebounds–Northwestern St. 36 (Bargeman 8), Oklahoma St. 32 (Monds 6). Assists–Northwestern St. 10 (Rogers 5), Oklahoma St. 17 (Curry 9). Total Fouls– Northwestern St. 33, Oklahoma St. 25. A–13,223.