Cowboys Open AdvoCare Invitational With Thanksgiving Showdown Against Memphis

Thursday, November 22

Orlando, FL

2:30 p.m.

Oklahoma State University

Memphis

Image Taken at the Oklahoma State Cowboys vs Charleston Cougars Basketball Game, Sunday, November 19, 2018, Gallagher-Iba Arena, Stillwater, OK. Bruce Waterfield/OSU Athletics

Cowboys Open AdvoCare Invitational With Thanksgiving Showdown Against Memphis

November 20, 2018 | Cowboy Basketball

• Game Center
Opponent: Memphis (2-1, 0-0 AAC)
Date / Tipoff: Nov. 22, 2018 / 2:30 p.m. CT
Site: HP Field House (5,000)
Series: OSU leads 5-3 • Last: OSU won 73-55, 12-13-14 in Memphis
Tickets: espnevents.com/advocare-invitational/tickets/
TV: ESPN2 (Karl Ravech, Dalen Cuff)
Webcast: WatchESPN
Radio: Cowboy Radio Network (Dave Hunziker, John Holcomb)
Satellite Radio: Sirius 135, XM 199
Live Stats: www.advocare.statbroadcast.com
Oklahoma State Game Notes

• The Basics
Oklahoma State used feisty defensive pressure and a blistering 3-point barrage to take down the reigning CAA champions, Charleston, 70-58, on Sunday afternoon. Now the Cowboys will head out for a five-game road swing - the program's longest regular-season stretch away from home since 2011 - starting with the AdvoCare Invitational in Orlando, Florida. First up for OSU in Orlando will be a rematch of the 2013 AdvoCare Invitational finals against Memphis, which is led by first-year head coach and former Tiger great Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway. This is OSU's third trip to the AdvoCare Invitational, which could feature a second-round matchup against Canisius or Villanova. LSU, Florida State, UAB and Charleston round out the field.

• On the Air
The matchup between the Cowboys and Tigers will air on ESPN2 at 2:30 p.m. Central. Karl Ravech and Dalen Cuff will handle the on-air duties. Dave Hunziker and John Holcomb will have the Cowboy Radio Network call.

• Defense-First Mindset
Oklahoma State has always been about defense, and the 2018-19 Cowboys are no exception. OSU's high-pressure defense ranks 38th nationally in turnover percentage (24.0) and 39th in effective field percentage defense (42.6). The Cowboys are holding teams to 61.3 points per game which ranks 42nd nationally, and are forcing 17.0 turnovers per game, which ranks 65th.

• Three's Company
As a team, OSU is shooting a blistering 46.2 percent (30-of-65) from 3-point, which ranks second in the Big 12 and seventh nationally. The three Cowboy captains - Thomas Dziagwa, Lindy Waters and Cameron McGriff - account for the bulk of that mark, and are a combined 26-of-52 (.500) from deep this season. Dziagwa ranks 12th nationally with 4.33 makes per game on 61.9 percent shooting, which ranks 14th in the country.

• Likekele Story
Freshman Isaac Likekele (10.3 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 4.3 apg) is one of just two Big 12 players averaging at least 10 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists per game (Nick Weiler-Babb, Iowa State). The former Texas 5A state champion and all-state guard from Mansfield Timberview High School has a vocal leadership style to go with length and versatility. Boynton has been quick to describe Likekele as "in the mold of" Cowboy greats Tony Allen and Marcus Smart.

• The Series Against the Tigers
The Cowboys and Tigers have produced some notable hardwood battles over the years, including a showdown in the 2013 Old Spice Classic (now the AdvoCare Invitational) finals in HP Field House. The Cowboys lead the overall series, 5-3, including a 75-55 victory in the FedEx Forum in the last meeting back in 2014. In the only postseason meeting, OSU took down Memphis, 70-53, in the second round of the 2004 NCAA Tournament in Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Missouri.

• Memphis Snapshot
First-year head coach Penny Hardaway and Memphis were picked to finish fourth in the American Athletic Conference preseason poll. Hardaway, a former Memphis All-American and four-time NBA All-Star, was named the Tigers' head coach in March and his hiring has energized the program. The Tigers will be led on the court by Jeremiah Martin, who was named to the AAC All-Preseason First Team after recording 18.9 points per game, which ranked second in the conference last season. He is among a solid group of returnees for the Tigers, who have four starters back, including second-leading scorer (at 13.3 points per game) and leading rebounder (at 6.1 per game) in Kyvon Davenport.

• Back In The AdvoCare Invite
This is Oklahoma State's third appearance in the AdvoCare Invitational. The Cowboys are 3-3 all-time in the event after advancing to the finals in 2013 and a seventh place finish in 2008. The event began in 2006 as the Orlando Classic, but was also previously known as the Old Spice Classic.

• Sunshine State Cowboys
A couple of Oklahoma State players grew up in Tampa, which is just an hour away from Orlando and the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Junior Thomas Dziagwa, a Temple Terrace, Florida, native, played his high school ball for his father, Don, at Tampa Catholic. Freshman Duncan Demuth hails from Seminole, Florida. Both players were regulars at Disney World while growing up, and both say they have played dozens of games in HP Field House.