Big East Battle At Marquette Awaits Cowboy Basketball

• Game Center
Oklahoma State (2-0) at Marquette (2-0)
Date: Dec. 1, 2020
Tipoff: 6 p.m. CT
Site: Fiserv Forum (17,341)
Series: OSU leads 4-1 (1-0 in Milwaukee)
Last: No. 11 MU won 91-61 on Nov. 20, 2007 in Maui
TV: FS1 (Eric Collins, Steve Lavin)
Radio: Cowboy Radio Network (Dave Hunziker, John Holcomb)
Satellite Radio: Sirius 134, XM 199
Live Stats: GoMarquette.com
Oklahoma State Game Notes

• The Basics
Oklahoma State is off to a 2-0 start and is headed to Milwaukee, Wisconsin for its first test of the season - a road matchup against a stout Marquette squad in the Big 12/Big East Battle. The Cowboys are led by AP Preseason All-American Cade Cunningham, who leads the Big 12 with a scoring average of 20.5 points per game, and stat-stuffing junior guard Isaac Likekele, who has averaged 8.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game. In all, seven OSU players average at least 7.0 points per game, and OSU has held its opponents to 18.2 percent shooting from 3-point - 16th nationally. The Golden Eagles bring a formidable defensive presence as well. Led by Theo John's 3.5 blocks per game, Marquette ranks third nationally in field goal percentage defense (26.8) and eighth in blocks (7.0).

• Against The Golden Eagles
This will be the sixth meeting between the Cowboys and Golden Eagles, and the first matchup since the 2007 Maui Invitational semifinals. Oklahoma State won the first four meetings between 1990 and 1998, including OSU's only trip to Milwuakee. That game was played at the Bradley Center on Dec. 30, 1990, and Darwyn Alexander led three Cowboys in double-figures with 15 points and seven assists in a 70-43 victory. OSU and Marquette have met twice in Hawaii and once in the postseason - the opening round of the 1993 NCAA Tournament. No. 23 OSU won that matchup, 74-62, in Indianapolis, Indiana.

• Marquette Snapshot
Marquette is off to a 2-0 start after home wins over Arkansas-Pine Bluff (99-57) and Eastern Illinois (75-50), but begins a grueling stretch that includes tilts against Oklahoma State, Wisconsin and UCLA before beginning Big East play against Creighton and Seton Hall. Dawson Garcia leads the roster with 17.5 points per game, while Theo John is averaging a double-double with 11.0 points and 10.5 rebounds per game.

• Big East Battle
OSU is 42-38 all-time against the current members of the Big East Conference, although the bulk of the meetings came against former conference mates Creighton (19-21) and DePaul (12-8). This is the second year of the Big 12/Big East Battle, a scheduling alliance between two of the best basketball leagues in the country that runs through 2022-23. Last season, Oklahoma State fell at home to Georgetown, 81-74, in OSU's first game without Isaac Likekele due to illness.

• Streaks & Trends

Dating back to last season, Oklahoma State has won its last six games and 10 of their last 13. The Cowboys won eight of their last 11 games in 2019-20 before the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
OSU has also won its last three games away from Stillwater. The Cowboys opened the year with a win at UT Arlington (75-68), ended last season with a win at Texas (81-59) and against Iowa State (72-71) in the Big 12 Tourney.
The Cowboys have won their last six home games, which was OSU's longest home win streak in Big 12 play since the 2012-13 squad won six straight in GIA.

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Players Mentioned

Cade Cunningham

Isaac Likekele

Oklahoma State University Athletics