Cowboy Basketball Taking On Houston Sunday

• Game Center
Oklahoma State (7-2, 0-0 Big 12) at Houston (6-2, 0-0 AAC)
Date / Tipoff: Dec. 15, 2019 / 2 p.m. CT
Site: Fertitta Center (7,035)
Tickets: uhcougars.com
Series: OSU leads 12-8 (UH leads 6-3 in Houston)
Last: Houston won 63-53 on Dec. 8, 2018 in Stillwater
Broadcast: ESPN (Mark Neely, Fran Fraschilla)
Webcast: ESPN app or WatchESPN.com
Radio: Cowboy Radio Network (Dave Hunziker, John Holcomb)
Satellite Radio: XM 375 (OSU call)
Live Stats: okstate.statbroadcast.com
Oklahoma State Game Notes

• The Basics
Oklahoma State is headed to Space City to take on a potent Houston squad led by Kelvin Sampson. The Cougars are coming off a 33-win campaign that included a trip to the Sweet 16 in 2019. Since returning from the NIT Season Tip-Off with a trophy, an undefeated record and a top-25 ranking, the Cowboys have dropped their last two games in the absense of do-it-all point guard Isaac Likekele. However, OSU has found success on the road this season. The Cowboys have won all three games outside of Stillwater, which is OSU's longest winning streak away from home since taking five straight Big 12 road games in 2017.

• On the Air
The Cowboys and Cougars will square off on ESPN with Mark Neely and Fran Fraschilla on the call. Tipoff is slated for 2 p.m. on Sunday, and the webcast can be seen on the WatchESPN app or ESPN.com. As always, Dave Hunziker and John Holcomb will have the Cowboy Radio Network call.

• Searching For Fire Without Ice
For the last two games, Oklahoma State has been without the services of Isaac "Ice" Likekele - the nation's only player averaging at least 5.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.9 steals per game. Likekele, a bullying point guard, sets the tone on both ends of the floor as OSU's leading scorer (13.7 ppg on 56.9 fg%) and best perimeter defender (2.9 spg leads the Big 12). Here's a look at some key OSU stats with and without Likekele this season.

• The Series With Houston
This will be the 21st meeting between Oklahoma State and Houston, and the second in a two-year home-and-home series with the Cougars. OSU leads the overall series, 12-8, including an 8-1 mark in Gallagher-Iba Arena. Houston is 6-3 against the Cowboys in Houston with wins in each of the last five. OSU's last win in Houston was on Jan. 25, 1954. The two programs shared a Missouri Valley Conference rivalry that saw them play at least twice per season from 1951-58. OSU joined the Big Eight Conference for the 1958-59 season, and the two teams played only once more during the regular season, in 1960. Last season's matchup was the first in 53 years.

• Houston Back On The Map
The Cougars have won at least 27 games in each of the last two seasons, and are coming off a 33-win campaign that included a trip to the Sweet 16 in 2018-19. Houston took down Georgia State, 84-55, to open the 2019 NCAA Tournament, followed by a 74-59 win over Ohio State. Kentucky's Tyler Herro hit a 3-pointer with 25.8 remaining to help the Wildcats sneak past the Cougars, 62-58, and advance to the Elite Eight. Houston ended the season ranked 11th in the AP Poll and No. 6 in the NCAA N.E.T. Rankings.

• Leading The Cougars
Cowboy fans are quite familiar with Houston head coach Kelvin Sampson, who was the head coach of the rival Sooners from 1994-06. A veteran of over 600 wins and 15 NCAA Tournament appearances, Sampson is just the 14th coach in NCAA history to lead five schools to the NCAA Tournament, which includes a trip to the 2002 Final Four. Sampson also served as an assistant coach for the Milwaukee Bucks from 2008-11 and the Houston Rockets from 2011-14. Against Oklahoma State, Sampson is 13-14, including a 12-14 mark in Bedlam games as the Sooners head coach.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Isaac Likekele

Oklahoma State University Athletics