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Oklahoma State Basketball: Cowboys take on Jayhawks in regular season finale

By Andrew Miller

Jan 14, 2017; Lawrence, KS, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Devonte' Graham (4) shoots a layup as Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Brandon Averette (0) defends during the second half at Allen Fieldhouse. Kansas won 87-80. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 14, 2017; Lawrence, KS, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Devonte' Graham (4) shoots a layup as Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Brandon Averette (0) defends during the second half at Allen Fieldhouse. Kansas won 87-80. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Oklahoma State basketball team looks to win their fifth straight against the no. 1 ranked Kansas Jayhawks at home on Saturday.

The Oklahoma State basketball team has one more game scheduled for the 2016-17 regular season campaign before they move on to the Big 12 Tournament next week. On March 4 they take on the no. 1 ranked Kansas Jayhawks at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater. KU has not defeated the Cowboys at GIA in four straight tries. Pretty much every one of those four attempts favored the Jayhawks as well.

KU head coach Bill Self seemingly figured out every Big 12 team on the road except for OK State, his alma mater. The Cowboys hope for similar fortunes on Saturday that they saw over the last four seasons.

OK State enters Saturday’s matchup with a 20-10 (9-8 Big 12) record. They can nearly lock up at least the seven seed in the NCAA Tournament by beating a team as good as the Jayhawks. Adding a win over a no. 1 ranked team would boost the Pokes’ resume enormously.

KU enters this game with a 27-3 (15-2 Big 12) record. The Jayhawks already locked up their 13th consecutive Big 12 regular season title, with little competition.

This could be the last regular season game for both sophomore point guard Jawun Evans and senior shooting guard Phil Forte. Either way this is Forte’s last regular season game. However, Evans could declare early for the 2017 NBA Draft. Forte has never lost to the Jayhawks at home during his OK State career.

The first time around the Jayhawks defeated the Cowboys 87-80 back at Allen Fieldhouse. KU ended up shooting 45 free throws that game compared to only 14 for the Cowboys. OK State was also out rebounded 42-31. The Cowboys need to keep KU off the foul line so much along with hitting the glass harder if they want more success on Saturday.

Junior forward Jeffrey Carroll had a relatively quiet game scoring against the no. 24 Iowa State Cyclones on Tuesday. Carroll did post double digit numbers in rebounds but he was held to less than 10 points. Look for him to respond in a big way before Saturday’s game.

Next: Oklahoma State Baseball: Cowboys fall to Saint Louis Billikens

Tip-off for the Kansas Jayhawks and Oklahoma State Cowboys is Saturday, March 4 at 5 p.m. CT at Gallagher-Iba Arena. You can watch the game on ESPN.

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