NCAA MEN’S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT 2ND ROUND: 9:40 P.M.: Midwest (4) Oklahoma State vs. (12) Oregon State, at Hinkle Fieldhouse, TBS; Cowboys game notes

March 20, 2021

• Game Center
2021 NCAA Tournament
Midwest Region • Round of 32
[4] 11/12 Oklahoma State (21-8, 11-7 Big 12) vs.
[12] Oregon State (18-12, 10-10 Pac-12)
Date/Tip: March 21, 2021 / 8:40 p.m. CT
Site: Hinkle Fieldhouse (9,100)
Series: Oregon State leads 5-2
Last: Oklahoma State won 66-53 on Nov. 21, 2014
TV: TBS (Kevin Harlan, Dan Bonner, Dana Jacobson)
Radio: Cowboy Radio Network (Dave Hunziker, John Holcomb)
Live Stats: StatBroadcast.com

• The Basics
No. 4 seed Oklahoma State took down No. 13 Liberty, 69-60, in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament and is one win away from its first Sweet 16 since 2005. The victory over the Flames marked the first NCAA Tournament win for all of the Cowboys’ active players and for fourth-year head coach Mike Boynton. Oklahoma State will take on No. 12 seed Oregon State, which is coming off its first ever Pac-12 Tournament championship and its first March Madness victory since 1982. The Beavers handled No. 5 seed Tennessee, 70-56, on Friday night. Tipoff is slated for 8:40 p.m. CT on TBS with Kevin Harlan, Dan Bonner and Dana Jacobson on the call.

• Bring on the Madness
Oklahoma State improved to 39-27 all-time in the NCAA Tournament thanks to its Opening Round win over Liberty. Friday night’s win was the first Tournament victory for OSU since 2009, and broke a six game losing streak in the Big Dance. The Cowboys are 6-6 all-time in the round of 32, and a victory would put OSU in the Sweet 16 for the 12th time in program history.

• The Battle For OSU
Oklahoma State and Oregon State are meeting for the second time in the NCAA Tournament, and for the first time since the 1949 Final Four. Led by the legendary Mr. Henry Iba, Oklahoma A&M, as the school was known then, took down Oregon State, 55-30, to reach the national title game, where they fell to Kentucky, 46-36. In all, this will be the eighth meeting between the Cowboys and Beavers. Oregon State leads the series, 5-2, but Oklahoma State took the only meeting in the last 50 years – a 66-53 win on Nov. 21, 2014 in Las Vegas.

• He’s on Fire
Avery Anderson III used his speed to produce a game-high 21 points and seven rebounds in the win over Liberty. In a first half when OSU struggled to find its footing offensively, Anderson scored 14 points to keep the Cowboys in the game. His 21 points against Liberty marked his third 20-plus point scoring effort in the last five games. Over this five-game span, Anderson is averaging 19.8 points and 5.0 rebounds on 57.8 percent shooting. Those accolades earned Anderson a spot on the All-Big 12 Championship team.

COURTESY OKLAHOMA STATE ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS