Cowboy Basketball Hosting Big 12 Leaders K-State Saturday

• Game Center
Opponent: Kansas State (15-5, 5-2 Big 12)
Date / Tipoff: Feb. 2, 2019 / 5 p.m. CT
Site: Gallagher-Iba Arena (13,611)
Tickets: okstate.com/tickets or 877-ALL-4-OSU
Series: K-State leads 81-53 (OSU leads 33-26 in GIA)
TV: ESPNU (Chuckie Kempf, Reid Gettys)
Webcast: ESPN3.com or WatchESPN app
Radio: Cowboy Radio Network (Dave Hunziker, John Holcomb)
Satellite Radio: Sirius 135, XM 199
Live Stats: okstate.com Sidearm Stats
Oklahoma State Game Notes

• The Basics
Oklahoma State closed out a 74-70 win over South Carolina in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge and got a much-needed week off before welcoming Kansas State (15-5, 5-2 Big 12) into Gallagher-Iba Arena. The Wildcats enter Saturday's showdown tied atop the Big 12 standings and healthy after the return of Preseason Big 12 Player of the Year, Dean Wade. Barry Brown leads the K-State attack with 15.2 points per game, and has helped the Wildcats win five straight Big 12 games. Fans can expect stifling defensive performances from both teams. The Cowboys have held eight of their last nine opponents under 42 percent shooting, while only one K-State opponent has reached 70 points this season.

• On the Air
The matchup will air on ESPNU at 5 p.m. Central. Chuckie Kempf and Reid Gettys will handle the on-air duties. The webcast is available at ESPN3 or via the WatchESPN app. Dave Hunziker and John Holcomb will have the Cowboy Radio Network call, which can also be heard on TuneIn Radio or on satellite radio Sirius 135 and XM 199.

• Cowboy Quick Hitters
• The junior trio of Lindy Waters, Thomas Dziagwa and Cameron McGriff has combined to hit 299 3-pointers on 39.7 percent shooting over their careers.
• Thanks to the shot-blocking prowess of Yor Anei and Cameron McGriff, OSU opponents are shooting just 51.4 percent in the paint - including layups and dunks - in GIA this year.
• In his last two games, Thomas Dziagwa is 8-of-16 (.500) from 3-point, including a 5-of-9 (.556) performance against South Carolina.
• The win last Saturday was the 30th in Mike Boynton's head coaching career, and came against his alma mater, South Carolina, where he played from 2001-04.

• Yor Says No!
Yor Anei uses his 6-10 frame and 7'0 1/2" wing span to block 2.1 shots per game, which ranks eighth nationally among freshmen and 37th overall. According to KenPom, he ranks 13th nationally with a block percentage of 12.0. Anei has racked up 41 blocks this year already, which ranks 24th in OSU for a single season. With five more blocks, he would tie Chianti Roberts (1993-97) for 25th in school history in career blocks. On top of those blocks, Anei alters countless additional shots in the paint.

• Defense Is The Key
While the Cowboys have scaled back their up-the-line defensive pressure, OSU's goal is still to speed up opponents and make it difficult to run their sets. Oklahoma State has been at its best in the last month, and has held eight of its last nine opponents to 41.8 percent shooting or less. OSU has held its Big 12 opponents to 40.8 percent shooting overall, which is second only to Texas Tech (40.1), and ranks third in the league in 3-point field goal defense at 31.6 percent.

• The Series With The Wildcats
This will be the 135th meeting between the Cowboys and the Wildcats. Prior to last year's K-State sweep of OSU, these two programs split the regular season series in each of the past five seasons. K-State leads the overall series, 81-53, but Oklahoma State has a 33-26 edge in Stillwater. K-State has won the last two meetings in GIA.

• Always A Ballgame
Since 2013, Oklahoma State and Kansas State have faced off 14 times, and a grand total of 21 points scored has separated the two schools in those meetings. In those 14 games OSU has scored 986 points and K-State has 1,007 points. The two teams have split the regular season series in five of the last six seasons.

• Scouting The Wildcats
After falling in their first two Big 12 contests, Kansas State has arguably been the league's hottest team. The Wildcats have won five straight Big 12 games, including impressive wins at Texas Tech, at Iowa State and at Oklahoma. Barry Brown is leading the way offensively with 15.2 points per game on 43.4 percent shooting. The return of Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year, Dean Wade, has helped K-State get back on the right track. Wade, a senior, is averaging 13.6 points and a team-high 6.6 rebounds per game.

Cowboy Basketball Hosting Big 12 Leaders K-State Saturday

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Players Mentioned

Yor Anei

Thomas Dziagwa

Cameron McGriff

Oklahoma State University Athletics