Oklahoma State University Athletics
No. 8 Cowboys Host Bears Saturday
January 31, 2014 | Cowboy Basketball
Jan. 31, 2014
#8 OKLAHOMA STATE vs BAYLOR
Saturday, Feb. 1 • 1 pm
Gallagher-Iba Arena
Stillwater, Okla.
Television -- ESPN
Dave Flemming | play-by-play
Jimmy Dykes | analyst
Cox (OKC) -- 29
Cox (Tulsa) -- 25
Suddenlink -- 31
direcTV -- 206
Dish -- 140
U-Verse -- 602
Radio -- Cowboy Radio Network
Dave Hunziker | play-by-play
John Holcomb | analyst
Game notes vs Baylor in PDF format
Game Information
Oklahoma State hosts the first of back-to-back home games this Saturday as the Cowboys entertain the Baylor Bears in a 1 pm tipoff inside Gallagher-Iba Arena. The game will be televised on ESPN, with Dave Flemming handling the play-by-play duties and Jimmy Dykes providing color commentary.
About Oklahoma State
The eighth-ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys are 16-4 overall this season and 4-3 in league play following an 88-76 loss at Oklahoma on Monday night. OSU is averaging 83.8 points per game this season with four players averaging at least 13 ppg. Marcus Smart leads the scoring attack with 17.3 ppg, among the leaders in the Big 12 Conference. Markel Brown is also among the league's top scorers, averaging 16.6 ppg, while Le'Bryan Nash (13.8 ppg) and Phil Forte (13 ppg) are both ranked among the league's top 15.
OSU is shooting 47.7% from the floor, including 37.5% from beyond the arc. The Cowboys have a scoring margin of 16.8 points per game. They also have a league-leading +4.2 turnover margin. OSU's defense has allowed more than 75 points just four times this season, giving up 67.1 ppg, a 38.8% FG defense and 30.7% three-point FG defense.
About Baylor
Baylor is 13-7 overall this season and 1-6 in league play following a 66-64 loss to West Virginia at home on Tuesday night. The Bears have lost five-straight conference games by an average of 7.6 ppg since an 88-62 victory over TCU, including two two-point losses at home (66-64 vs Oklahoma and 66-64 vs West Virginia).
Baylor is led by senior forward Cory Jefferson who is averaging a team high 12.6 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. Juco transfer Kenny Chery is averaging 11 points and five assists per contest. Brady Heslip (10.9 ppg) and Isaiah Austin (10.3 ppg) are also averaging double figures.
As a team, the Bears have a plus-8.7 rebounding margin, but a minus-2.5 turnover margin. They are coached by Scott Drew, who is 191-145 in his 11th season at the helm of Baylor.
Series History vs BU
Oklahoma State leads the all-time series with Baylor 52-20, including a 25-4 mark in Stillwater. OSU is 21-4 vs the Bears inside Gallagher-Iba Arena.
Since the Big 12 formed in 1996-97, OSU is 26-11 vs Baylor, including a 15-2 mark at home. The Cowboys lost 74-72 in 2003 and 64-60 in 2012.
Oklahoma State is 13-2 as a ranked team vs Baylor in the Big 12 era, and each team has won two overtime games during that timeframe. OSU is looking for a third-straight win in the series for the first time since a seven-game stretch that ended in 2007.
Last Season vs the Bears
Oklahoma State and Baylor split the regular-season series with each team winning at home last season. The Bears defeated OSU 64-54 in Waco, despite a 24-point performance by Le'Bryan Nash. The Cowboys made just 2 of 16 (12.5%) three-point attempts, while BU landed 8 of 22 (36.4%) from long range. The Bears also made 11 more trips to the free-throw line. Marcus Smart had a double-double with 12 points and 10 boards to go along with seven assists.
Despite leading by 14 points with less than eight minutes remaining in the game, it took overtime before Oklahoma State defeated Baylor 69-67 in Stillwater. OSU once again struggled from outside, making just 3 of 21 attempts (14.3%). However, the Cowboys made up for it on defense, forcing 16 turnovers and outscoring the Bears 19-2 in points off those turnovers. Pierre Jackson scored a game-high 24 points for Baylor, but also had 11 turnovers. Smart finished with 14 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, four steals and no turnovers in 42 minutes of play.
The rubber match of the series took place in Kansas City in the Big 12 Championship. OSU served as the No. 3 seed while Baylor was the No. 6 seed. The Cowboys led by as many as 20 in the first half, three minutes before intermission, but a furious Baylor rally in the second period got the Bears back in it. A four-point play by Gary Franklin with just 19 seconds remaining in the game tied the contest at 72-all. With two seconds left in regulation, Deuce Bello fouled Phil Forte, who connected on both free throws. Jackson was able to get off a three-point attempt, but it fell off the mark and the Cowboys were victorious 74-72. Jackson had a game-high 31 points, which was offset by five OSU players finishing in double figures. Smart finished with 21, while Forte and Nash each scored 14. Markel Brown had 11.
Coaches vs Cancer "Swish" Day
Saturday is the Oklahoma State Coaches vs. Cancer annual Swish Day fundraiser. Four children, all cancer survivors, will be introduced prior to the game and have one minute to make as many baskets as they can. Each child will be assisted by a `celebrity' rebounder: former Cowboy Basketball players Joe Adkins, Obi Muonelo, Chianti Roberts or Alex Webber. Each basket made will be added to the OSU men's team 3-Point Attack total at the end of the season, resulting in additional dollars raised for the American Cancer Society's Coaches vs. Cancer program. Donation buckets will be passed through the crowd at the first media timout. Fans are encouraged to bring a few extra dollars to the game to contribute to the cause. Fans can also pledge online at ... www.osucvc.com
Autism Awareness Day
Coach Travis Ford is one of nearly 100 men's basketball coaches throughout the country that will be wearing the "Autism Speaks" pin on his suit jacket Saturday. Towson's Pat Skerry and Marshall's Tom Herrion, each who have sons on the autism spectrum, have started a nationwide campaign to raise awareness about this disease.
Notes about autism:
• Autism now affects 1 in 88 children.
• Autism now affects 1 in 54 boys.
• Autism prevalence figures are growing.
• Autism is the fastest growing serious developmental disability in the United States.
• Autism costs a family approximately $60,000 a year on average.
• There is no medical detection or cure.
Up Next for OSU
It will be the norm for Oklahoma State during the remainder of the regular season. The Cowboys will have just one day off before hosting Iowa State on Monday, Feb. 3, in a Big Monday matchup at 8 pm on ESPN.
Monday's game has been designated as "Eddie Sutton Night", recognizing the iconic coach who resurrected the Cowboy Basketball program.
The Cowboys will then travel to Lubbock, Texas, on Sat., Feb. 8, as OSU faces Texas Tech in an 8:30 pm battle on ESPNU.
Oklahoma State will play back-to-back road games as the Cowboys travel to Austin, Texas, to take on the Texas Longhorns on Tuesday, Feb. 11, at 6 pm on ESPN2's Super Tuesday.
