Game Preview: Oklahoma State at Southern Illinois
The Oklahoma State Cowboys are looking at an opportunity to even their record out back at .500 as they travel to take on the Southern Illinois Salukis. They're coming off a tough loss against Creighton in a game they played well in, despite a 17-0 run that was too far to recover for the Cowboys.
The two teams squared off last season as the Salukis narrowly defeated the Cowboys. The Cowboys have a 2-5 all-time record against Southern Illinois. This game will be huge for Oklahoma State, which badly needs to get back on track with some wins.
Game Info:
Game time: 8 p.m. CT
Where: Banterra Center, Carbondale, IL
Records: OSU (3-4), Southern Illinois (5-2)
Spread: Oklahoma State -1.5
TV Channel: CBSSN
The Cowboys enter this game averaging 75 points per game, allowing 68.3 points per game. The Salukis beat them in both of those departments, averaging 79.4 points per game and allowing just 65 points per game.
Where the Cowboys will be able to win this game is the in the small margins. They average more rebounds and assists per game, and they'll have to win those battles to compete in this game.
Southern Illinois senior guard Xavier Johnson is averaging 23.1 points per game on the season while shooting 50 percent from the floor. He's coming off a 31-point game in a blowout win and, a couple of weeks ago, put up 38 points on No. 22 James Madison as the Salukis nearly pulled off an upset win.
Johnson is going to pose a problem for the Cowboys defensively, and they're going to have to play synchronized defensively to slow Johnson and the Salukis.
For the Cowboys, leading scorer and junior guard Javon Small has been the best performer in big games. Expect him to be the engine of the offense as the Cowboys try and outscore the Salukis.
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