OU Hosts Mississippi State in OKC

Oklahoma

Mississippi State

Saturday, Jan. 25 / 1 p.m. CT / Chesapeake Energy Arena

Tickets / ESPN / Radio / Live Stats / Game Notes

NORMAN - After taking No. 1 Baylor down to the wire on Big Monday, Oklahoma (12-6, 3-3 Big 12) looks to bounce back when it hosts Mississippi State (12-6, 3-3 SEC) on Saturday afternoon at Chesapeake Energy Arena as part of the Big 12/SEC Challenge.

Mississippi State enters the challenge on a three-game winning streak, beating Missouri, Georgia and Arkansas by an average of 22.0 points. A long and athletic group led by big man Reggie Perry (16.9 points, 10.3 rebounds), the Bulldogs average 13.6 offensive rebounds per game - the fourth most among major-conference teams. T

The Sooners will look to counter MSU's bigs with their pair of high-scoring forwards Kristian Doolittle (15.9 points, 8.6 rebounds) and Brady Manek (15.6 points, 43.9% from 3).

ON THE AIR

• The 1 p.m. matchup will air on the Sooner Radio Network (107.7 FM The Franchise in Oklahoma City; KTBZ 1430 AM in Tulsa; Tune In Radio App) with Toby Rowland and Kevin Henry announcing.

• Chuckie Kempf and Chris Spatola will call the action on ESPN2. Fans with proper cable verification can stream the game on the Watch ESPN app.

TICKETS

• Tickets start at $20 can purchased at the OU Athletics Ticket Office (800-456-4668) and SoonerSports.com/Tickets. Chesapeake Energy Arena's box office will open at 11 a.m. on Saturday.

• General admission student tickets will be distributed on a first come, first served basis. Tickets can be picked up at the OU Ticket Office. Once the general admission allotment has been claimed, OU students will have the opportunity to claim lower bowl reserved seats.

IN THE BONUS

• In honor of Coaches vs. Cancer week, the Sooners and Bulldogs will take a moment before the start of the second half to honor friends and family affected by cancer. Fans are encouraged to participate by grabbing a card outside section _ and writing down the name of a loved one that cancer has impacted.

• Fans are encouraged to #ArriveSooner to avoid delays into the gates with enhanced screenings. Chesapeake Energy Arena allows fashion style backpack purses, clutches, purses, diaper bags and single-compartment drawstring bags that are smaller than 14" x 14" x 6". All larger bags are prohibited.

• More information on games at Chesapeake Energy Arena can be found on this info page.

THREE POINTERS

• OU is bringing the Sooner basketball experience to Chesapeake Energy Arena, playing a marquee non-conference home game in downtown Oklahoma City for the second straight season. Oklahoma owns a 14-6 record when playing at Chesapeake Energy Arena and is 5-1 in the building during the Lon Kruger era. Under Kruger, the Sooners have won two All-College Classic games at 'The Peake' (2012 vs. Texas A&M, 2011 vs. Houston) and won first and second round 2016 NCAA Tournament games against CSU-Bakersfield and VCU during the Sooners' path to the Final Four. OU's most recent game inside the Peake was a dominant 32-point win over Wichita State last season.

• After being limited to 10 points on 4-of-16 shooting against No. 6 Kansas on Jan. 14, junior forward Brady Manek has strung together two of the best games of his career. Manek has totaled 52 points over his last two games (Jan. 18 vs. TCU, Jan. 20 at Baylor), shooting 60.7% from the field and 11-of-17 (64.7%) from 3-point range. The junior scored a career-best 31 points against TCU followed by a 21-point, 10-rebound double-double at Baylor. Manek is averaging 16.0 points during Big 12 play - the third-most in the league.

• Senior forward Kristian Doolittle enters Saturday's game with 984 career points - 16 shy of the 1,000-point milestone. Oklahoma's leading scorer, Doolittle grew up in the city of Edmond – roughly 15 miles north of Chesapeake Energy Arena. Doolittle is aiming to become the 47th Sooner to score 1,000 points in a career at Oklahoma. His teammate, Brady Manek, reached the 1,000-point milestone last Saturday against TCU.

OKLAHOMA VS. MISSISSIPPI STATE: SERIES HISTORY

• The Sooners are looking for their first-ever win over Mississippi State, who is leading the all-time series 3-0. The two teams have not met since a neutral site games in New Orleans in 2002.

• OU is 12-9 against current SEC teams in the Kruger era, including 10-5 against schools which were SEC members at the time of competition. The Sooners have won four straight games against SEC schools, including a 77-66 win over Missouri earlier this season.

OKLAHOMA IN THE BIG 12/SEC CHALLENGE

• Oklahoma is 4-2 in the Big 12/SEC Challenge with previous wins over LSU, Missouri, Texas A&M and Vanderbilt while falling to Florida and Alabama. Oklahoma won last's year matchup with Vanderbilt, 86-55.

• Oklahoma's 4-2 record is tied for the Big 12's second-best record in the challenge. Only Baylor (5-1) has a better record in the event among Big 12 squads.

• This season marks the seventh edition of the Big 12/SEC Challenge with the Big 12 winning it in four years with one tie (4-1-1). The Big 12 holds a 35-25 (.583)
advantage in the Challenge games. All Big 12/SEC Challenge games will be played on the same day for the fifth consecutive season. Games were played in December during the first two years.

• In the first four years of the event, the Big 12/SEC Challenge trophy remained in the Big 12 office. (in case of a tie, the trophy stays with the conference that won it the previous season). The Big 12 reclaimed the trophy in 2019 after a 6-4 advantage. Brady Manek

WHAT'S WITH THE SHOES?

• As part of Suits and Sneakers Week (Jan. 20-26), the Oklahoma coaching staff will join coaches around the country in wearing sneakers during the game to raise awareness about the American Cancer Society's fight against cancer. The iniative is organized by Coaches vs. Cancer - a nationwide collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC).

• The Sooner coaching staff will be wearing OU-branded CP3.XII shoes from Jordan Brand during Saturday's game.

• Oklahoma head coach Lon Kruger was named council chair of Coaches vs. Cancer in 2018 and has been a member of the Coaches vs. Cancer Council since 2007. As the council chair, Kruger is not only an advocate for the organization, but partners with a presitgous list of fellow council members that includes the likes of Jay Bilas, Jim Boeheim, Jim Calhoun, Mike Krzyzewski, Tubby Smith, Norm Stewart and Roy Williams.

• Kruger has been a longtime supporter of the American Cancer Society. As founder and chairman of the Coaches vs. Cancer Las Vegas Golf Classic, Kruger's leadership has helped the event raise over $5 million over the last 12 years – including over $3 million net in the past three years alone.

• In 2017, Kruger was a recipient of the American Cancer Society's prestigious St. George National Award for his extraordinary service to the community in support of the Society's mission to save lives and lead the fight for a world without cancer. Kruger was also recognized in 2012 with the Coaches vs. Cancer Champion Award and in 2009 with the Legacy and Leadership Visionary Award from the ACS Las Vegas region.

• Since its inception, Coaches vs. Cancer has raised over $115 million to support the American Cancer Society and save lives. Thanks to Coaches vs. Cancer supporters, the American Cancer Society is providing hope to millions of cancer patients and their families. The Society offers free rides to treatment, a live 24/7 helpline, and free lodging near hospitals for people dealing with every type of cancer.

QUICK HITS

• The Sooners are 13-4 when playing in an NBA arena under Lon Kruger, including 5-1 at Chesapeake Energy Arena. OU has won four straight games in NBA arenas - Oregon State at MODA Center (2019), Wichita State at Chesapeake Energy Arena (2018), Notre Dame at Madison Square Garden (2018) and USC at STAPLES Center (2017).

• Oklahoma has been dominant in non-conference play in recent seasons, boasting a combined 31-6 record in its last 37 non-league regular-season games. In non-conference play since 2017-18, Oklahoma is 12-5 against major conference schools (ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Pac-12, SEC) and 16-6 in games played away from Norman.

• The Sooners have won 17 straight home non-conference matchups (15 straight at Lloyd Noble Center). OU's last non-conference home loss came in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge to Florida on Jan. 28, 2017.

• Oklahoma boasts the top scoring trio in the Big 12 and one of the best in the country in senior forward Kristian Doolittle (15.9 points per game), junior forward Brady Manek (15.6) and junior guard Austin Reaves (14.7). All three Sooners rank in the top 10 of the Big 12's scoring race - led by Doolittle with the fifth-highest scoring average in the league. Oklahoma is one of only three major-conference schools (Arkansas, Miami) with three players averaging over 14.5 points.

• OU leads the Big 12 in free throw percentage, making 76.4% of its shots from the foul stripe. The Sooners, who shot free throws at a 69.7% rate in 2018-19, rank 28th in the country in 2019-20. OU boasts the fifth best free throw percentage among schools from major conferences.

• In addition to their success at shooting at the foul line, the Sooners have also shown discipline in keeping their opponents off the charity stripe. Oklahoma commits only 13.1 personal fouls per game – the third fewest in the country. OU opponents are shooting an average of 13.1 foul shots per game, compared to OU's 18.8 free throw attempts.

• The Sooners discipline is on display on the offensive end as well. Oklahoma is turning the ball over just 10.3 times per game, which ranks sixth in the nation. Virginia Tech (9.5) and Notre Dame (9.7) are the only major-conference teams turning the ball over less.

• Sometimes the key to victory is as simple as making shots. The Sooners are 11-1 this season when they have a better field goal percentage than their opponents. Their only loss when owning a better field goal percentage was on the road at No. 1 Baylor.

• OU is 11-3 when holding its opponents to under 80 points.

• After reaching 1,000 career points last week, junior forward Brady Manek approaches another milestone. With 163 career 3-pointers, Manek is seven shy of cracking OU's top-10 list for careers 3-point field goals. Ryan Minor currently sits in 10th with 170 made treys. Buddy Hield holds the Sooner record with 349.

• Manek and Xeyrius Williams of Akron are the only players in Division I men's basketball averaging at least 2.6 made 3-pointers and 1.2 blocks.

• Manek ranks second in the Big 12 in 3-pointers per game during conferene play with 3.17. The forward is sinking his treys at a 51.4% clip during Big 12 play, which leads the conference.

• Senior forward Kristian Doolittle is the only Big 12 player averaging at least 15 points and eight rebounds.

• Junior guard Austin Reaves is third in scoring among Big 12 newcomers with 14.7 points per game.

NEXT UP: KANSAS STATE

• The Sooners return to Big 12 play on Wednesday when they face Kansas State on the road in Manhattan. The matchup will air on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ at 7 p.m. CT. A win would give the OU its first season sweep of Kansas State since 2012.

• The Wildcats are the first team the Sooners will face for a second time in the round-robin Big 12 schedule. The two teams opened Big 12 play against each other on Jan. 4 in Norman with Oklahoma securing the 66-61 victory. The Sooners trailed by seven (61-54) with 3:25 remaining before closing the game on a 12-0 run. Four Sooners scored in the final stretch while K-State shot 0-of-5 from the field.

• Oklahoma leads the all-time series, 109-101, but are 36-62 against the Wildcats in Manhattan. Kansas State has won seven straight meetings inside Bramlage Coliseum with the last OU win in Manhattan coming on Jan. 28, 2012.

ON THE AIR

TICKETS

IN THE BONUS

THREE POINTERS

OKLAHOMA VS. MISSISSIPPI STATE: SERIES HISTORY

OKLAHOMA IN THE BIG 12/SEC CHALLENGE

WHAT'S WITH THE SHOES?

QUICK HITS

NEXT UP: KANSAS STATE

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Kristian Doolittle

Brady Manek

Austin Reaves

Sponsors

University of Oklahoma Athletics