Cowboy Basketball Opening Homestand Against Huskies Sunday Afternoon

Sunday, November 26

Stillwater, Okla.

2 p.m.

Oklahoma State University

Houston Baptist

Cowboy Basketball Opening Homestand Against Huskies Sunday Afternoon

November 24, 2017 | Cowboy Basketball

Game Center
Opponent: Houston Baptist Huskies (1-4, 0-0 Southland)
Date / Tipoff: Nov. 26, 2017 / 2 p.m. Central
Site: Gallagher-Iba Arena (Stillwater, Okla.)
Series: OSU leads 10-1 (7-0 in GIA)
Tickets: Start at $10 at okstate.com/tickets
TV: FSOK (Mike Wolfe, Bryndon Manzer, Allison Gappa)
Radio: Cowboy Radio Network (Dave Hunziker, John Holcomb)
Satellite Radio: None
Live Stats: okstate.statbroadcast.com
Oklahoma State Game Notes

The Basics
Oklahoma State needed a bounce-back performance after the loss to No. 16 Texas A&M, and that's exactly what they got in their 73-67 win over Pittsburgh in the Legends Classic third-place game. Now, the Cowboys return to Gallagher-Iba Arena to open a challenging four-game homestand against Houston Baptist, which features one of the best rebounding frontcourts in college basketball.

On the Air
The matchup between the Cowboys and Huskies will air on Fox Sports Oklahoma at 2 p.m. Central. Mike Wolfe, Bryndon Manzer and Allison Gappa will handle the on-air duties. FoxSportsGo will carry the webcast. As always, Dave Hunziker and John Holcomb will have the Cowboy Radio Network call.

High-Pressure Defense
Oklahoma State's defensive pressure looks to speed up opponents and create turnovers and bad shots, and through five games it seems to be working. OSU has forced at least 12 turnovers in each game, including a season-high 19 against Texas A&M, and ranks 24th nationally by giving up just 59.8 points per game. On the perimeter, OSU is allowing just 25.3 percent shooting from 3-point, which ranks 16th nationally.

Bounce-Back Performance
Preseason All-Big 12 guard Jeffrey Carroll was held to just four points in his season debut against Texas A&M, but bounced back in a big way against Pittsburgh. The senior posted a career-high 29 points on 10-of-17 shooting and nine boards against the Panthers. Since the start of the 2016-17 season Carroll has been held in single-figures just six times, but in the subsequent game he has averaged 22.8 points on 58.8 percent shooting, including five 20-point performances.

Battle of the Boards
Two of the nation's top offensive rebounding groups will clash on Sunday in Stillwater. Houston Baptist averages 15.8 offensive rebounds per game, which ranks 10th nationally. Husky Josh Ibarra is the Southland Conference's leading rebounder at 9.3 boards per game, including 3.5 offensive boards per game, which ranks second in the conference and 45th nationally. Thanks to Mitchell Solomon, OSU ranks 52nd nationally at 13.6 offensive rebounds per game. Solomon, a senior, is sixth in the Big 12 with 2.6 offensive boards per game.

The Series
This will be the 12th meeting between Oklahoma State and Houston Baptist, including the eighth in Gallagher-Iba Arena. The Cowboys lead the overall series, 10-1, including a 7-0 mark in GIA. HBU's lone win in the series came in 1983 in Houston, and Anicet Lavodrama led the Huskies that day with 17 points.