NIT Second Round
#3 Oklahoma St Cowboys at #2 Washington St Cougars
Wallis Beasley Performing Arts Coliseum, Pullman, WA
Monday, March 21, 2011, 11:30 pm Eastern, TV: ESPN2
Opening Line: Washington St -5 1/2
Current Line: Washington St -7
Opening Total: 136
Current Total: 140
Money Line: WSU -290 / OSU +245
Oklahoma St and Washington St face off in Pullman for the right to go to the NIT quarterfinals against Northwestern. Oklahoma St is 20-13 overall and finished 9th in the Big 12 with a 6-10 record. Since a 4 game losing streak in mid-February, Oklahoma St has gone 4-2 in their last 6 games. The Cowboys beat Harvard 71-54 at home in the first round of the NIT, led by senior forward Marshall Moses who had 18 points and 8 rebounds. Washington St is 20-12 and finished 6th in the Pac 10 with a 9-9 record. They struggled down the stretch going 6-7. They beat Long Beach St 85-74 in the first round of the NIT. Guard Klay Thompson scored 25 points and added 7 rebounds and 4 assists in the victory.
Washington St and Oklahoma St have played only once in history. Oklahoma St won 81-29 in a 2004 game in Stillwater. Both teams had games against Kansas St, Gonzaga, Baylor, and Stanford. Both teams went 3-2 in those games. Oklahoma St is 8-17 ATS as an underdog the last 2 seasons. The Cowboys are 2-8 ATS in road games this season. The Pokes are 13-4 ATS after a non-conference game the last 2 seasons.
Oklahoma St guard Ray Penn and forward Darrell Williams are both suspended for the rest of the season. Williams averaged 7.1 points and was the teams second leading rebounder with 7.3 a game. Penn averaged 5.9 points and 2.1 assists a game to lead the team. The Cowboys are led by forward Marshall Moses. He is averaging 14.5 points, 7.4 rebounds, and is shooting 50% from 3-point range. He is the teams’ leading scorer and rebounder. Guard Keiton Page averages 13.3 points, 2 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 0.9 steals a game. Forward J.P. Olukemi averages 11.3 points, and 4.1 rebounds a game. Matt Pilgrim leads the team in steals with 1.2 a game. Oklahoma St is outscoring opponents 68-66 on the season. The Cowboys are shooting 43.7% from the field and 29.8% from 3-point range. Cowboy opponents are shooting 41.5% from the field. The Cowboys make 72.4% of their free throws. OSU averages 34.7 rebounds a game and has a rebounding margin of +2.1. The Pokes average 10 assists and 13.6 turnovers a game. OSU forces 13.6 turnovers a game on defense. The Cowboys average 2.8 blocks and 6.7 steals a game.
Washington St has no significant injuries right now. The Cougars are led by guard Klay Thompson. He is averaging 22.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1 block a game. He leads the team in scoring, assists, and steals. Guard Faisal Aden averages 13.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.4 steals a game. Forward DeAngelo Casto averages 12.1 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks a game. He leads the team in rebounds and blocks. Washington St is outscoring opponents 74-67 on the season. The Cougars are shooting 46.2% from the field and 36% from 3-point range. The Cougs are holding opponents to 39.7% shooting from the field. Washington St shoots 70.5% from the free throw line. Washington St averages 34.6 rebounds a game with a rebounding margin of -1.4. They average 13.7 assists and 13.1 turnovers a game. They force 14.9 turnovers a game on defense. The Cougars average 6.9 steals and 3.7 blocks a game.
Washington St is better on offense than Oklahoma St, and both are about the same defensively. Neither team is great at rebounding. I think the home court advantage will be enough for the Cougars to win.
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