Tip: 6:00 PM
Location: Lloyd Noble Center
TV: ESPN
Notes & Storylines
- OU is 29th nationally and second in the Big 12 in field goal percentage (47.5%) and 40th in scoring defense (64.7).
- Oklahoma enters the 2022 NIT with a 10-7 record in the tournament. The Sooners are making their eighth appearance and their first since 2004.
- Umoja Gibson was named to the Big 12 Championship All-Tournament Team. The senior guard led OU with 16 points against Texas Tech and scored 14 points and added five rebounds in the 72-67 victory over No. 2 seed Baylor.
- Porter Moser is the first coach in program history to have five wins over teams ranked in the top 15 of the AP Poll in his first season.
- Oklahoma is 3-0 all-time against Missouri State.
- Current Sooner head coach Porter Moser was once the men’s basketball head coach at Illinois State and coached current Missouri State head coach Dana Ford.
- Moser led the Loyola Ramblers to a 2-0 record against Missouri State during his last season in Chicago.
- Oklahoma receives 50.2% of its scoring from the trio of Tanner Groves, Umoja Gibson and Jordan Goldwire. Gibson leads the Sooners with 12.5 points per game, Groves adds 11.8 and Goldwire 10.5. Gibson has recorded the two highestpoint performances by a Sooner this season, recording 30 points against Texas Tech and 29 at K-State.
- The Sooners are 13-1 when shooting 50.0% or greater from the field. When Oklahoma records a higher field goal percentage than its opponent, the Sooner are 17-1.
- CJ Noland has made 54.4% (49-90) of his shots this season and ranks eighth in program history for field goal percentage for a freshman.
- If Oklahoma wins the opening round contest against Missouri State, the Sooners will face the winner of Colorado and St. Bonaventure on March 19 or 20. OU holds a 1-0 record against the Bonnies and holds a 88-49 advantage over the Buffs.
How To Watch And Listen
Tip is scheduled for 6 pm. CT and will air on the Sooner Sports Radio Network (KRXO 107.7 FM The Franchise in Oklahoma City; KTBZ 1430 AM in Tulsa; Varsity Radio App) with Toby Rowland and Kevin Henry announcing. The game will air on ESPN with Mark Neely and Fran Fraschilla on the call.
The Last Time Around
Oklahoma beat Missouri State 61-53 on December 23, 2004. Four Sooners finished with double-figure points and were led by Drew Lavender’s 12 points. Terrell Everett and Taj Gray added 11 and Lawrence McKenzie 10. Gray finished with a team-high 13 rebounds, including eight on the offensive glass.
Scouting The Bears
The Bears are making their 10th appearance in the NIT. MSU earned an opening-round victory over Valparaiso (67-58) in the MVC Tournament before falling to No. 3 seed, and tournament runner up, Drake Saturday, March 5.
Missouri State is fourth nationally in free throw percentage (79.5), 14th in field goal percentage (48.4) and 25th in three-point field goal percentage (37.4). The Bears rank in the top-3 in conference ranks in 14 NCAA statistical categories.
Gaige Prim and Isiaih Mosley earned All-MVC first-team honorees for the second year in a row. Mosley has a team high 20.1 points per game and Prim adds 16.4 points and 8.0 rebounds per contest. Prim along with Donovan Clay have started all 33 games for MSU. Ja’Monta Black has started 32, Mosley 31 and Lu’Cye Patterson 25.
Oklahoma’s Projected Starters
G – Jordan Goldwire (Super Senior)
G – Mo Gibson (Senior)
F – Jacob Groves (Junior)
F – Jalen Hill (Junior)
F – Tanner Groves (Senior)
Missouri State’s Projected Starters
G – Lu’cye Patterson (Sophomore)
G – Ja’Monta Black (Junior)
G – Isiaih Mosley (Junior)
G – Donovan Clay (Junior)
F – Gaige Prim (Senior)
Team Stats
| TEAM | PTS | PA | FG% | REB | AST | BLK | STL | STRK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OU | 68.5 | 64.7 | 47.5 | 31.7 | 13.8 | 1.8 | 7.5 | L1 |
| MSU | 77.5 | 68.3 | 47.5 | 35.4 | 13.2 | 3.7 | 5.2 | L1 |
Predictions
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