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Oklahoma State Basketball: Predicting Bedlam

By Andrew Miller

Jan 30, 2017; Norman, OK, USA;Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Jawun Evans (1) drives to the basket betwen Oklahoma Sooners guard Christian James (3) and Oklahoma Sooners forward Kristian Doolittle (11) during the first half at Lloyd Noble Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 30, 2017; Norman, OK, USA;Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Jawun Evans (1) drives to the basket betwen Oklahoma Sooners guard Christian James (3) and Oklahoma Sooners forward Kristian Doolittle (11) during the first half at Lloyd Noble Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Oklahoma State basketball team takes on the Oklahoma Sooners tonight at 7 p.m. CT in Bedlam at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater.

The Oklahoma State basketball program faces one of their most exciting matchups of the season tonight against the Oklahoma Sooners in Bedlam at Gallagher-Iba Arena. The first meeting between these two teams ended in a 68-66 victory for the Pokes at the Lloyd Noble Center in Norman.

Tip-off for tonight’s Bedlam game is at 7 p.m. CT in Stillwater. You can catch the game televised on ESPNU. Furthermore, the Pokes enter the game at 11.5 point favorites and the over/under is 152.5 points.

OU enters tonight’s game with a record of 9-16 (3-10 Big 12). The Sooners 2016-17 campaign has not turned out the way they planned. They have really struggled to win on the road this season as they are 1-6 away from Norman. Moreover, they currently own a three game losing streak on the road dating back to their upset of the then ranked no. 7 West Virginia Mountaineers in Morgantown.

OK State enters tonight with a 17-9 (6-7 Big 12) record. The Cowboys have won two games in a row and seven of their last eight games.

A huge key to victory for the Pokes tonight is star sophomore point guard Jawun Evans who registered 24 points, four assists, and three steals in the first meeting between these two squads. Evans has been hot of late with at least 12 points and four assists in each of the last five games.

He lands a matchup against OU’s best player in senior point guard Jordan Woodard who only scored seven points in the first Bedlam game. Expect Woodard to be much better this time around.

OU’s best player last time around was freshman guard Kameron McGusty who posted 22 points, four rebounds, and two assists. OK State’s junior forward Jeffrey Carroll likely draws the matchup with McGusty tonight.

Senior forward Leyton Hammonds is possibly the biggest x-factor for the Pokes. He scored 21 points in OK State’s last victory against the TCU Horned Frogs back on Feb. 15.

Expect senior shooting guard Phil Forte to have a bounce back performance tonight after a quiet game against the Frogs on Wednesday where he was held to only three points. Forte clinched the victory for the Pokes back on Jan. 30 against the Sooners with the game winning three-pointer with less than 10 seconds remaining.

Next: Leyton Hammonds improvement could be huge

Bedlam is always an exciting matchup whether its football, basketball, baseball, etc. Even though the spread is set at 11.5 points, the game will be closer than that, but the Pokes still come out on top at GIA tonight.

Oklahoma State 75, Oklahoma 71

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