Oklahoma State And Tulsa Ready For Shootout In Gallagher-Iba

Oklahoma State hosts Tulsa on Wednesday night in a game that will have NCAA tournament implications. Yes, it’s early December and we’re talking about March Madness.

This is one of those early-season games that will count as an RPI-builder when Selection Sunday comes around. Oklahoma State made the tournament at 18-14 while Tulsa narrowly missed it at 22-10.

The Cowboys have won two-in-a-row, both against Long Beach State. Senior guard Phil Forte has missed the past three games with a left elbow tear and as a result reserve guard Jeffrey Carroll has stepped into a bigger role averaging 9.3 points per game since Forte went down. In his first action since a bout with pneumonia, Leyton Hammonds scored 20 off the bench last Friday against the 49ers. He’ll likely be back in the starting lineup Wednesday night.

Tulsa’s backcourt duo of Shaquille Harrison (20.2) and James Woodard (16.8) pace the Golden Hurricane, whose signature moment thus far is a 77-67 victory against No. 9 Wichita State on Nov. 17th. But since a 4-0 start, Tulsa has lost to South Carolina and UALR. The Golden Hurricane has lost three-straight against Oklahoma State.

Opening tip is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.