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Texas Tech Basketball Tale Of The Tape: Oklahoma St (11-10, 2-6)

The Red Raiders host the Oklahoma St Cowboys Wednesday night at 8:00 PM.

Gunnar Rathbun-USA TODAY Sports

Well, Texas Tech lost another close game in their last contest this time it was against Arkansas. The Red Raiders are now 1-7 in their last 8 games and desperately need to right the ship. Oklahoma St is a tricky team and a bit of a wildcard so it should be an interesting game.

Check out the game on ESPNU at 8:00 PM!

Oklahoma St Key Players

Category Stat Name
Points/Game 13.0 G Jawun Evans
Rebounds/Game 5.1 G Leyton Hammonds
Assist/Game 5.1 G Jawun Evans
3pt Made/3pt % 27/81, 33.3% G Jeffrey Carroll
Free Throw % 69/83, 83.1% G Jeff Newberry

Early in the season Oklahoma St lost one of their most important players in Phil Forte. Through 3 games he was averaging 13.3 points a game, that still leads the Cowboys' scoring average. Freshman Jawun Evans has stepped up in Forte's absence and is averaging right at 13 points a game. Oklahoma St is a very guard-centered team, their top 4 rebounders are all guards which might be an advantage for Texas Tech. The Cowboys also have 7 players who have taken 35+ 3-point attempts with Jeffrey Carroll leading the way with 81 attempts. The Red Raiders will have to slow down some of Oklahoma St's guards to have a shot at winning.

Last 5 Games

1/16 Texas L 74-69
1/19 #3 Kansas W 86-67
1/23 Kansas St L 89-73
1/27 #17 Baylor L 69-65
1/30 Auburn W 74-63

As mentioned earlier, Oklahoma St is a bit of a wildcard. The Cowboys are 11-10 on the season and 2-6 in Big 12 play. Losses to Tulsa and Missouri St in pre-conference didn't help the Cowboys, but they also had an overtime loss to George Mason and a 2-point loss to Florida. The Cowboys are 2-6 in their last 8. Their most surprising win on the season came on 1/19 when they played Kansas. Oklahoma St beat the #3 team in the nation by 19 points and it left a lot of people scratching their heads. So what team will show up against Tech, the team who destroyed #3 Kansas or the team who lost to Missouri State?

Prediction

Texas Tech 78 - Oklahoma St 79

The Red Raiders are 1-7 in their last 8 while the Cowboys are 2-6, but one of Oklahoma St's wins came in the blowout win against Kansas. I give the slight edge in this game to Oklahoma St but the Red Raiders can get the win if they slow down the Cowboys' guards. If Texas Tech's big men step up down low then they can walk away with the win.