Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboys, Tulsa Clash in Vegas
November 26, 2014 | Cowboy Basketball
Oklahoma State (5-0) vs. Tulsa (3-1)
Championship Game MGM Grand Main Event | Wednesday, Nov. 26, Las Vegas, Nevada
MGM Grand Garden Arena, 10:30 p.m. (Central) | ESPN2 | Cowboy Radio Network
The Cowboys Quickly
Oklahoma State has opened a season at 5-0 for the third straight year and a win on Wednesday night would give the Cowboys a second straight 6-0 start. OSU hasn't opened two straight seasons with 6-0 records since the 1936-37 and 1937-38 seasons.
Strip Streak
Oklahoma State's win over Oregon State improved the Cowboys to 11-2 all-time in Las Vegas, including five straight victories dating back to a 2005 loss to Boston College.
Title Run
The Cowboys will be looking to win an in-season tournament for the first time since November of 2012 when OSU went 3-0 in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off. That squad dismantled No. 6 North Carolina State in the championship game, 76-56.
OSU-TU
OSU leads the series with Tulsa, 70-37. Since 1987, the Cowboys have a 12-5 series advantage and are currently riding a two-game winning streak vs. TU. The two schools have never played each other outside of the state of Oklahoma. The Hurricane and Cowboys have played just five games since 1996.
Three Feats
OSU has connected on at least six three-pointers in every game this season, adding seven on Monday night vs. Oregon State. Ten Cowboys have made a three-pointer through the first five games.
TO Talk
The pressure defense of Oklahoma State has paid off during the early season start:
• The Cowboys have forced 85 turnovers through five games and OSU has at least nine steals in every game.
• OSU had nine second-half steals in Monday's win over Oregon State. The defense helped OSU break open a tight game and open a 17-point lead in the final minutes.
• A year ago, with one of the nation's best defensive players in Marcus Smart, Oklahoma State averaged 7.6 steals per game. Through five games of 2014-2015, the Cowboys are averaging 12.2 steals per game.
Oregon State Recap
Oklahoma State got just two points off the bench, but collected 12 steals and held the Beavers to just 33.3 percent shooting (14-42) in Monday's win.
• Junior guard Phil Forte scored 13 second-half points and played 39 minutes.
• Le'Bryan Nash made nine more trips to the foul line (where he hit seven). He has already attempted 48 free throws through five games.
• After Oregon State drew even with the Cowboys at 44 all with 10:21 remaining in the game, the Cowboys went on a 20-3 run over the next 8:13 with the lead cresting at 64-47 with just over two minutes remaining.
• During the decisive eight-minute run, Forte took over. During that stretch he had nine points, two rebounds, two steals and an assist.
• OSU utilized 12 players in the game.
The Nash Numbers
Oklahoma State's Le'Bryan Nash is off to an impressive start in his senior season. In the early going he is easily OSU's most valuable player:
• Nash is tied for the team lead, averaging 17.8 points per game.
• He leads OSU at the free-throw line with 48 attempts and he leads with his 81.3 free-throw percentage.
• He is second on the team with 7.2 rebounds per game.
• He is second on the team with 12 assists to date.
• He is second on the team with four blocked shots.
Player Liners
• Senior point guard Anthony Hickey opened the season by scoring a total of 13 points through his first three games as a Cowboy. Over the last two games he has scored 27 points with a 15-point outing against Milwaukee and 12 more points vs. Oregon State.
• Freshman Jeffrey Carroll has become an important Cowboy early in his career. He failed to score in the season opener, but has been in double figures three times in the last four games. He was 3-of-5 from three-point range against Oregon State.
• Le'Bryan Nash or Phil Forte have led the Cowboys in scoring every game this season.
