Stillwater, OK (Sports Network) - After enjoying a week off following their
championship run in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off tournament, the 20th-ranked
Oklahoma State Cowboys play host to the Portland State Vikings in a non-
conference bout on Sunday afternoon.
Portland State opened its season against Pacific University (OR) at home,
winning handily, 77-58. Since then however, the Vikings have gone on the road
an dropped a pair of games to Oregon (80-69) and Portland (81-60) to fall
below .500.
After winning its opener at home over UC Davis (73-65), Oklahoma State made
the trip to Puerto Rico and put together an improbable run to the title
following wins over Akron (69-65), Tennessee (62-45) and NC State (76-56),
rising in the national ranks in the process. The Cowboys will play seven of
their next eight games at home to close out the 2012 calendar year.
This bout marks the first-ever meeting between these two schools on the
basketball court.
Portland State put forth its worst offensive performance of the season the
last time out against cross-town rival Portland, as it shot just 35.7 percent
from the floor, including 2-of-15 from three-point range. In addition, the
Vikings allowed the Pilots to make more than 51 percent of its total shots in
a game they never led. Dre Winston paced the squad in scoring (13 points) and
rebounds (seven) and also made three steals, but he shot just 4-of-12 from the
field. Michael Harthun added 11 points in defeat, and Renado Parker chipped in
10 points. On the season, the Vikings are scoring less than 69 ppg, but they
still put up respectable percentages from the floor (.452) and the foul line
(.809). They consistently lose the battle on the boards (minus-6.7 rebounding
margin) and commit 16.3 turnovers per game. Winston puts up 14.7 ppg on
greater than 57 percent from the floor. Parker (11.0 ppg) is the only other
player in double figures, although Harthun, Aaron Moore and Lateef McMillan
all net between 8.3 and 9.7 ppg.
Oklahoma State saved its best effort of the season for its toughest game in
the Puerto Rico Tip-Off championship, as it defeated NC State by 20 points
thanks to an excellent effort at the defensive end (.355 field goal percentage
defense), and a great night at the free throw line (20-of-24). Le'Bryan Nash
was a modest 5-of-12 from the field, but he nailed all 13 of his attempts from
the foul line en route to a team-high 23 points. Marcus Smart continued his
fantastic freshman campaign in the win. Not only did he score 20 points, but
he dished out seven assists, grabbed seven rebounds, logged four steals and
blocked four shots. Not surprisingly, Nash and Smart are the Cowboys top two
performers through four games. Nash scores 19.0 ppg on 45 percent from the
floor while grabbing 6.8 rpg, while Smart has already proven to be one of the
most versatile players in the nation with 14.8 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 5.0 apg, 3.0 spg,
and 1.5 bpg, although his field goal percentage (.386) could use a boost.
Markel Brown (12.5 ppg) and Phil Forte (10.3 ppg) are also consistent
performers, but as a team OSU shoots a mere 40.4 from the field.
The Sports Network