GAME NOTES: Sooner State and Big 12 Conference rivals will collide in Norman tonight, as Oklahoma plays host to Oklahoma State. OSU is desperate for a victory, as it has lost four straight decisions to fall to 10-9 overall and 1-4 in league play. The last two losses have come at home by a total of five points, including a 59-56 setback against No. 18 Texas A&M on Saturday. The Cowboys have played only four true road games this season, and all four have ended in disappointment. As for Oklahoma, it appears to be in strong position to contend for an NCAA Tournament bid as February approaches. The Sooners have won their last two outings to improve to 14-5 overall and 2-2 in conference, and the most recent win was impressive. They invaded Baylor on Saturday and held off the 25th-ranked Bears in a 77-71 final. Oklahoma holds a 122-88 lead in the long-time series with Oklahoma State, including a 67-60 decision over the Cowboys in the most recent meeting last season.

On Saturday against Texas A&M, Oklahoma State shot a solid 46.2 percent from the floor in the first half, including 6-of-12 from three-point range. Unfortunately, the team connected on only 36 percent of its field goal attempts over the final 20 minutes, including a 3-of-12 showing from behind the arc. The Cowboys turned the ball over just eight times in the clash, but they shot a lowly 5-of-12 from the foul line and were outrebounded by a 32-23 margin. James Anderson hit 4-of-6 three-pointers and finished with 15 points for OSU. Ibrahim Thomas added 13 points, while Muonelo contributed 10 points in 15 minutes of action off the bench. Anderson is averaging 15.5 ppg through 19 games, and Terrel Harris is second in scoring with his 11.1 ppg. Marcus Dove provides 10.6 ppg and 6.0 rpg for the Cowboys, who are averaging 70.8 ppg while allowing 65.6 ppg to the opposition. Obviously, that positive scoring differential is a result of the team's success against non-conference competition.

Blake Griffin, Oklahoma's outstanding power forward, was expected to miss the Baylor game with a sprained knee. Not only did he shock his teammates and the Sooner faithful by playing in that contest, he was without question the best player for his squad in the upset win. Griffin played just 22 minutes off the bench, but he scored 17 points and pulled down 15 rebounds as well. He got plenty of help from his teammates at the offensive end, as five player in all reached double figures in scoring for Oklahoma. The Sooners earned a 50-42 rebounding advantage in the clash and limited Baylor to 37.7 percent shooting from the field, as those two positives overshadowed an 8-of-16 rebounding advantage. Griffin leads the team with 14.7 ppg and 9.0 rpg this season, and he is shooting 58.1 percent from the floor. The Sooners are netting 73.5 ppg as a team while limiting foes to 63.5 ppg.

Expect the Sooners to win this game in front of the home crowd, as Oklahoma State has yet to prove that it can win on the road. Griffin will have a big night both scoring and rebounding for Oklahoma.