Game Notes: #15 Creighton

November 29, 2023 | Cowboy Basketball

OSU Notes (PDF)Creighton Notes (PDF)Watch Listen Buy Tickets Live Stats

No. 15/14 Creighton (5-1) at Oklahoma State (3-3)
Big 12-BIG EAST Battle
Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023 | 8:02 p.m. CT
Stillwater, Okla. | Gallagher-Iba Arena

TV: ESPN2 (Rich Hollenberg & Tim Welsh)
Radio: Cowboy Radio Network
Internet Radio: okstate.com/listen & The Varsity Sports App
Tickets: okstate.com/tickets
Live Stats: okstate.statbroadcast.com
Series: CU leads 21-19 (OSU leads 12-7 in Stillwater)
Last: Dec. 20, 2023 in Omaha (CU, 66-60)

Full Game Notes PDF

The Basics:
The Oklahoma State Cowboys (3-3) play host to the Creighton Bluejays (5-1) at 8 p.m. CT Thursday inside Gallagher-Iba Arena. This Big 12-BIG EAST Battle matchup is the first between the programs since 1998. Creighton (ranked 15th in the AP and No. 14 in the Coaches Poll) is the highest-rated non-conference opponent to appear at GIA since No. 6 Wichita State in 2017.

Tickets:
To purchase seats, visit okstate.com/tickets or call (877) 255-4678.

Survivor Night:
OSU and Creighton are teaming up with The Eddie Sutton Foundation to raise money and awareness for the fight against cancer. The hall of famer coached at both schools during his storied career. The foundation is offering $1 tickets for cancer survivors and their families and Eddie Sutton bobbleheads in return for a small donation. A nod to Sutton's infamous scowl, custom cards with the message: "I scowl at cancer in memory of…" will be available for fans to fill out. Coaches on both benches will also wear special Eddie Sutton Foundation pullovers during the game. Visit TheEddieSuttonFoundation.com for more information.

Watch:
The game will air on ESPN2 with Rich Hollenberg and Tim Welsh. Fans with ESPN2 in their television package can stream the game live and on-demand through the ESPN app.

Listen:
Dave Hunziker and John Holcomb describe the action across the Cowboy Radio Network. Visit okstate.com/radio for a full list of network affiliates. Fans outside the listening area can tune in via the Varsity Sports App or at okstate.com/listen.

Last Time on Cowboy Basketball:
Nov. 24, 2023 (Stillwater) – OSU 92, Houston Christian 65

Mike Marsh led a group of six double-figure scorers with 14 points in a lopsided win.
Jarius Hicklen (12 points) drilled 4-of-10 threes and Eric Dailey Jr. (12) grabbed a team-high six rebounds. Brandon Garrison, Jamyron Keller and John-Michael Wright supplied 10-each.
Garrison became just the fourth Cowboy freshman to record six-or-more blocks in a single game.
Javon Small and Quion Williams combined for 14 of OSU's 24 assists. The Cowboys shot 48.6% and committed just nine turnovers.
HCU started 9-of-13 from the field to go up 25-23 midway through the first half but connected on just 15-of-51 the rest of the way.
Wright's 250th career three put OSU back in front for good with 9:26 to play and the Cowboys led by 15 at the break.
Three Hicklen triples sparked another 21-3 push early in the second half to push the lead from 11 to 29.

Scoring by Committee:

OSU has played the last three-and-half games without its most proven scorer – senior guard Bryce Thompson (14.3 ppg, 6/12 3pt) – but other weapons have emerged in his absence.
A different Cowboy has led the scoring in each of the last five games: Thompson (17 vs. Sam Houston), Eric Dailey Jr. (15 vs. St. Bonaventure), Javon Small (29 vs. Notre Dame), Jamyron Keller (18 vs. New Orleans) and most recently Mike Marsh (14 vs. Houston Christian).

On the Right Track:

Mike Boynton Jr. predicted an improved offense in 2023-24, and the so far the data supports his hypothesis. The Cowboys ranked 322nd out of 352 teams last year in three-point percentage (.310) and 292nd in assist-to-turnover ratio (0.89), but have made impressive strides in both areas.
OSU is sinking 9.3 threes per game on 33.7% accuracy so far (up from 5.9 on 29.3% in seven November games last year.
The Cowboys are also averaging 2.6 more assists and 2.8 fewer turnovers and their assist-to-turnover ratio has jumped from 1.02 to 1.49.

Finding Good Help:

OSU finished with 20 assists in last Monday's win over New Orleans and tallied 24 more on Friday against Houston Christian. It's the first time in more than seven years that a Cowboy team has posted back-to-back 20-assist games. OSU had 20 dimes in a Nov. 14, 2016 win over Central Arkansas and 22 versus New Orleans on Nov. 16.
The last OSU team with three straight 20+ assist games? Eddie Sutton's 1999-00 team, piloted by national assist leader Doug Gottlieb went for 23, 28 and 29 against Idaho, Little Rock and North Texas.
The 1993-94 Cowboys own the school record with six straight. That group, which included current OSU assistant Scott Sutton, averaged 19.9 assists on their way to a Final Four.
42 assists are the most in a two-game span since the 2006-07 season when the Cowboys went for 43 in wins over UTSA (17) and Southwestern Oklahoma State (26).
The Cowboys rank 27th nationally in assist percentage with 103 assists on 167 baskets (61.7%).

Small Looms Large:

Javon Small missed the opener while recovering from injury but is averaging 14.0 points and team-best 5.6 assists with a 2.55 assist-to-turnover ratio since his return.
The junior point guard has taken a particular liking to his new home court, totaling 18 assists against just one turnover in three games at Gallagher-Iba Arena.
In the five total games that Small has been active, OSU has a 1.61 assist-to-turnover ratio.
In two games last week against New Orleans and Houston Christian Small handed out 14 assists without a turnover.
In fact, Small has been turnover-free for his last 54 minutes, 57 seconds of floor time going back to the end of the Notre Dame game in Brooklyn (Nov. 17).
OSU players have dished out six-or-more assists without a turnover 23 times since 2000. Small is the first to do it in back-to-back games since Daniel Bobik during the 2004-05 season.
Small is more than just a facilitator. In the Nov. 17 against Notre Dame, he became the first OSU guard since Cade Cunningham to post a 20+ point double-double, finishing with 29 points and 10 rebounds.

I Love the 90's:

OSU has scored 90+ points in back-to-back games for the first time under Boynton. The Cowboys are 11-0 in the Boynton Era when hitting that milestone and 31-4 when making at least half of their shots.
The OSU offense is having more success getting to the rim lately. After tallying just four dunks in the first four games, the Cowboys have 11 in their last two contests.
Against HCU, the Cowboys scored 20 points on fast break opportunities -- most by an OSU team since Jan. 29, 2022 against Florida (22).
OSU's 78.8% 2-point percentage against UNO was its highest in more than 17 years and its 1.32 points-per-possession marked its most efficient offensive game since Nov. 16, 2017 against Oral Roberts (1.41).

Keeping up with the Trends:

The Cowboys aren't dominating on defense but have quietly put together some solid performances. They haven't allowed more than 70 points in any game this season but will have their full against Creighton team that comes in averaging 84.0 points.
OSU opponents have finished with more turnovers than assists in five of the six games and have a 0.75 ratio (59 A, 79 TO) for the year. Creighton's 1.75 ratio ranks 16th nationally.
OSU is 22-4 over the last two seasons when out-shooting its opponent (compared to 1-15 when out-shot).
Brandon Garrison's performance against HCU last Friday put him in some select company. He's one of only four Cowboy freshmen who have blocked six-or-more shots in a game joining Yor Anei (4x in 2018-19), Byron Houston (2x in 1988-89) and Leroy Combs (1979-80).
Javon Small and John-Michael Wright have so far been immune to the free throw bug that's bitten the majority of the Cowboys. OSU ranks among the bottom-30 nationally in team percentage (.609). Small is 14-of-16 and Wright 13-of-14, but the rest of the roster has combined to make just 45-of-85 (.529).
Wright handled point guard duties in the opener but scored in double-figures in each of the last five games since moving off ball -- the longest such streak of his two-year OSU career. Over that span he's averaging 12.0 points.
Leading rebounder, Mike Marsh (7.0 rpg) missed the Notre Dame game with an injury but returned to post a double-double against New Orleans (13 pts, 11 reb) and a team-high 14 points against Houston Christian. In those two games, OSU scored 14 second-chance points off of his nine offensive boards.
OSU two-headed monster of Marsh and 6-11 freshman Brandon Garrison averages a combined 16.0 points, 11.7 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per 40 minutes on 61.8% shooting.

Frosh Produce:

With Jamyron Keller's debut, OSU has played the last two games with a 10-man rotation that includes five true freshmen.
On Nov. 20 against New Orleans, the rookies accounted for around 45% of the minutes and 51% of the points (49 of 96). OSU played almost 80% of the game (31:42) with at least two freshmen on the court and used three-or-more for over half of the proceedings.
Friday against Houston Christian the Cowboys had at least two freshmen on the court for 29 minutes and played with three-or-more for 15:46. The rookies combined for 41% of minutes and around 47% of the scoring (43 of 92).

The Battle Rages On:

This is one of 11 matchups in the BIG EAST-Big 12 Battle, which is now in its fifth year. Teams from the two conferences will go head-to-head over a six-day period (Nov. 30-Dec. 5). Last year the Cowboys played at eventual national champion UConn.
The last three Big EAST-Big 12 Battles have ended in ties but a winner is guaranteed in 2011 with the Big 12's expansion now allowing for an 11th game.

OSU vs. Nationally-Ranked Opponents:

Seventh-year Mike Boynton Jr. owns 23 wins over AP nationally-ranked teams. That's the third-highest total in OSU history behind hall of famers Eddie Sutton (49) and Henry Iba (27).
12 of those wins have come at Gallagher-Iba Arena. 2022-23 victims included No. 12 Iowa State and No. 15 TCU.
All-time OSU is 76-80 against AP ranked opponents inside GIA.
Creighton is the first nationally-ranked non-conference opponent that the Cowboys have faced in Stillwater since No. 6 Wichita State on Dec. 9, 2017.

Scouting the Bluejays:

Creighton came within an eyelash of the Final Four last spring, falling 57-56 to San Diego State in the Elite Eight. The Aztecs took the lead on a free throw with 1.2 seconds remaining.
The Bluejays (picked second in the BIG EAST) earned the highest preseason ranking in program history at No. 8. They return three preseason all-conference picks – senior center Ryan Kalkbrenner (a consensus All-American who averages 15.3 points), senior forward Baylor Scheierman (18.2 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 4.0 apg) and junior guard Trey Alexander (15.8 ppg, 6.5 rpg) -- and also added former Utah State standout Steven Ashworth from the transfer portal.
CU won its first five games but is looking to bounce back after a loss to Colorado State (69-48) in the finals of last week's NABC Hall of Fame Classic in Kansas City.
The Bluejays ranks second nationally in three-point field goals per game (12.3) and 13th in rebounding margin (+11.2) but made just 6-of-29 and were outrebounded 43-34 in their loss to the Rams.
Creighton has been whistled for a nation-low 8.5 fouls per game.
Head coach Greg McDermott has a 585-346 record in parts of 30 seasons and recently won his 300th game at Creighton (305-151, 14th).
CU enters the week as one of eight teams nationally that have taken more threes (191) than twos (174). 44% of Bluejay points come from beyond the arc (also No. 1 in the nation).
Creighton is the tallest team OSU will face this year. The 16 Bluejays have an average roster height of 78.56 inches (11th nationally).

Matchup Mashup:

OSU legend Eddie Sutton's first head coaching job was at Creighton (1969-74). He inherited a program coming off three straight losing seasons and led it to five straight winning records, capped by a 23-7 mark and an NCAA tournament bid in 1974.
OSU's Associate Head Coach, Terrence Rencher, spent two years at Creighton under head coach Greg McDermott (2019-21) helping the Bluejays win their first-ever Big East regular season title in 2020 and a Sweet 16 appearance the following year.
This is Boynton's first meeting with Creighton.
The Cowboys are 4-1 against McDermott (all from his time as Iowa State's head coach).
Creighton's Trey Alexander is an Oklahoma City native. He and OSU freshman Brandon Garrison both played summer ball in the Team Griffin organization, albeit on separate teams.

The Series with Creighton:

This is meeting No. 41 in the series. Creighton leads 21-19.
The teams last played nearly 25 years ago when they split a home-and-home series. The Cowboys downed the Bluejays 86-70 at GIA on Nov. 22, 1997 behind 17 points each from Adrian Peterson and Brett Robisch. Creighton returned the favor on Dec. 20, 1998 in Omaha, upsetting 18th-ranked OSU behind Rodney Buford's 20 points.
35 of the 40 series meetings took place from 1928-48 when both schools were members of the Missouri Valley Conference and the OSU Cowboys were known as the Oklahoma A&M Aggies.
The rivalry's height came over a nine-year stretch from 1934-35 to 1942-43 when either Creighton or Henry Iba's Aggies (sometimes both) finished atop the Valley standings in every season. Creighton won four titles and OSU claimed six during that stretch.
OSU lost only six home games in GIA's first 10 seasons (1938-48). Two of them were to Creighton.
OSU is 7-2 all-time against Creighton at GIA (12-7 in Stillwater).

Memorable Series Moments:

Mar. 9, 1946 – Looking to put the finishing touches on a perfect 16-0 Missouri Valley Conference season, the Aggies battled back from an early 8-0 deficit in Omaha to defeat Creighton, 45-24, behind 17 points from All-American Bob Kurland. Later that month they won the NCAA title for a second straight year.
Feb. 28, 1948 – A 36-27 victory in Omaha was Henry Iba's 300th and officially clinched the Missouri Valley Conference title.

A Cowboy win would...

Lift them over the .500-mark for the first time this year (4-3).
Extend their winning streak to three games.
Make them 4-1 at home this year.
Narrow Creighton's all-time series lead to 21-20.
Up Boynton's November mark to 34-10.
Make them 2-3 in Big 12-BIG EAST Battle games.
Be Boynton's 24th over an AP nationally ranked opponent in parts of seven season at OSU.

Up Next: at Southern Illinois
Tuesday, Dec. 5 | 8 p.m. CT | CBSSN

OSU plays its first true road game Tuesday at Southern Illinois.
The Cowboys will be looking to avenge last year's 61-60 loss at Gallagher-Iba Arena.
OSU is winless in two trips to Carbondale, Ill. (1964 and 2008).
SIU (picked ninth out of 12 teams in the MVC preseason poll) returns three starters from last year's 23-win team but must replace its top two scorers.
The Salukis are 4-2 heading into a Saturday matchup with Saint Louis.