It’s better to win ugly than to lose beautifully, and that was certainly the case for Oklahoma State on Saturday.

Although the No. 16 Cowboys defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks 39-31, it took a second-half comeback and two overtimes to avoid an upset.

The Razorbacks came out of the blocks quickly, taking a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. The Cowboys’ first points of the day came on a 73-yard pick-six from Kale Smith.

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Oklahoma State’s Ollie Gordon II celebrates a touchdown with Preston Wilson during double overtime against Arkansas at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. (IMAGE)

Oklahoma State’s first offensive points came with just nine minutes left in the third quarter, when kicker Logan Ward connected on a 45-yard field goal to make it 21-10.

The Cowboys got the break they needed with about 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter. Down 21-13 and with the offense still sputtering, Razorbacks punt returner Isaiah Sategna fumbled the punt and the Cowboys recovered on the Arkansas 25-yard line.

Two plays later, quarterback Alan Bowman found wide receiver Brennan Presley for a seven-yard touchdown. Bowman then hit De’Zhaun Stribling for the two-point conversion to tie the game at 21 apiece.

After getting a defensive stop, the Cowboys turned to a trick play to get the offense going. On a flea-flicker, Bowman found a wide-open Jake Schultz for 63 yards to take into the red zone.

A few plays later, the Cowboys got creative, using Presley out of the backfield on a jet sweep for a three-yard touchdown, giving the Cowboys a 28-21 lead.

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Oklahoma State’s Ollie Gordon II (center) and Brennan Presley (80) celebrate with fans after the game. (IMAGE)

The Razorbacks responded quickly with a three-play, 75-yard drive capped by a 43-yard touchdown from Luke Hasz of Taylen Green to tie the score at 28-28 with just over four minutes remaining.

Bowman led the Cowboys 55 yards in three minutes to the Arkansas 20-yard line, setting up Ward to make a 38-yard field goal and put the Cowboys back ahead, 31-28.

With no timeouts and 55 seconds left on the clock, Green went to work.

The Razorbacks quarterback, going underneath for a narrow gain, took a shot and hit Andrew Armstrong for 33 yards, moving the offense to Oklahoma State’s 27-yard line.

Arkansas kicker Kyle Ramsey hit a 45-yard field goal just inside the right post to tie the score at 31-31 as time expired and the game went into overtime.

The Razorbacks started with the ball, but fell behind in overtime after a crucial loss of 12 yards on a third-down sack of Green by Obi Ezeigbo, dropping Arkansas back to the Oklahoma 28-yard line.

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Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green passes the ball during the fourth quarter against Oklahoma State. (William Purnell-Imagn images)

Ramsey was good from 45 yards to send the game into overtime, but was not good in overtime from 46 yards, shooting to the left and giving Oklahoma State’s offense a chance to win.

However, Oklahoma State’s offense wasn’t much better than Arkansas’ offense in overtime.

They gained one yard total, but had to settle for a 41-yard field goal opportunity from Ward to win the game.

He missed right.

Both teams missed their goals and the score remained 31-31 going into overtime.

The Razorbacks held Heisman candidate Ollie Gordon II to a standstill for most of the game. But the star running back found the end zone in double overtime on a 10-yard rush and then caught the two-point conversion to put the Cowboys up 39-31.

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Oklahoma State’s Ollie Gordon II kneels to celebrate a 2-point conversion in double overtime. (IMAGE)

The Razorbacks offense worked the ball to the Cowboys’ six-yard line, but was stopped on 4th-and-1, giving them the opportunity to make a surprise shortstop.

The Cowboys survived the game and improved their score to 2-0. On September 21, they will face number 11, Utah.

Arkansas hopes to bounce back from Auburn on September 21.

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