OSU Basketball Player Collapses, Dies After Stairs Workout

An Oklahoma State basketball player collapsed and died after a 40-minute team workout on the football stadium stairs Thursday night, the AP reports. An OSU spokesperson says Tyrek Coger, 22, who had recently transferred to the university, did not appear to be struggling during the workout. The temperature around the time of his collapse was 99 degrees with a heat index of 105 degrees, and emergency responders were alerted to a report of heat exhaustion. On Friday, the Oklahoma State Medical Examiner's Office said Coger died from an enlarged heart and that the manner of death was natural.

Coger had undergone health screenings to ensure he was physically able to participate in sports, an OSU spokesperson says, but the university cannot release the results due to federal law. Coger told the Stillwater NewsPress earlier this month that he had surgery several years ago to drain fluid from around his brain. It wasn't clear whether that played a role in his death. OSU athletic director Mike Holder says the team will thoroughly examine its practices following Coger's death. (More Oklahoma State University stories.)