Oklahoma
No. 21 Oklahoma State faces BYU with possible Big 12 title game berth on the line
BYU (5-6, 2-6 Big 12) at No. 21 Oklahoma State (8-3, 6-2, No. 20 CFP), Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
Line: Oklahoma State by 16 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
Series record: Oklahoma State leads 2-0.
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
Oklahoma State is well positioned to compete for a spot in the Big 12 Championship Game after rallying for a 43-30 win over Houston last week. Depending on what happens in Friday’s games, a win over BYU on Saturday could clinch the berth. The Cowboys are tied with Oklahoma and Kansas State for second place, and they already have defeated both. They have won six of their past seven games under longtime coach Mike Gundy. BYU could become bowl eligible in its first season in the Big 12. The Cougars have qualified for bowl games for five straight years.
KEY MATCHUP
Oklahoma State RB Ollie Gordon II vs. BYU run defense. Gordon is tied for the national rushing lead with 1,414 yards. He had a rough game against UCF before getting back on track with a 164-yard, three-touchdown performance against Houston last week. BYU is among the nation’s worst teams against the run.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
BYU: RB Aidan Robbins had a breakout game against Oklahoma last week. He ran for 182 yards on 22 carries and caught two passes for 45 yards in the 31-24 loss. He could provide stability since BYU isn’t sure who will start at quarterback between Kedon Slovis, who has been fighting shoulder and elbow injuries, and Jake Retzlaff.
Oklahoma State: WR Brennan Presley. He leads the conference with 67 receptions. He had 15 catches for 189 yards at Houston — both highs for a Big 12 player this season. He was the top target for Alan Bowman, who passed for a season-high 348 yards against the Cougars.
FACTS & FIGURES
This is the first regular-season game between the programs. Oklahoma State beat BYU 49-21 in the 1976 Tangerine Bowl and 16-6 in the 1974 Fiesta Bowl. … Oklahoma State ranks second nationally in fourth down defense. … Gordon ranks third nationally in all-purpose yards. … Oklahoma State LB Nickolas Martin leads all Big 12 players and ranks 13th in the FBS with 10.2 tackles per game. … Oklahoma State K Alex Hale leads the nation with 24 made field goals. … Retzlaff passed for 173 yards and rushed for 29 in last week’s 31-24 loss to Oklahoma.
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Oklahoma
Oklahoma City Thunder Injury Report Against Brooklyn Nets
On Sunday night, the Oklahoma City Thunder will host D’Angelo Russell and the Brooklyn Nets.
For the game, they have announced their injury report (updated as of 4:30 Eastern Time).
The Thunder have ruled out Isaiah Hartenstein, Chet Holmgren, Ajay Mitchell and Nikola Topic.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams are both listed as questionabel.
The status of Williams and Gilgeous-Alexander will have major implications on the game.
They are averaging a combined 52.2 points and 11.2 assists per contest.
Gilgeous-Alexander missed the team’s last game, so this would be his second straight out of action (if he doesn’t play).
Via OKC Thunder Stats: “Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has 36 straight games with 20+ points scored. That is the longest active streak in the NBA and 1 behind his career-high streak of 37 games.
It is the 45th longest streak in NBA history.”
The Thunder have had an incredible start to the 2024-25 NBA season.
They are the first seed in the Western Conference with a 34-7 record in 41 games.
Following the Nets, the Thunder will play their next game on Wednesday when they host John Collins and the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night in Oklahoma City.
As for the Nets, they have had a tough season.
They are 14-28 record in 42 games, which has them as the 12th seed in the Eastern Conference.
Following the Thunder, the Nets will return home to host Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks on Tuesday night at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Oklahoma
Injury-Riddled Nets-Thunder Contest Should Prove Fortunate for Oklahoma City
The Oklahoma City Thunder suffered its second loss in six games on Friday night, succumbing to the Dallas Mavericks without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on hand.
A 106-98 defeat, OKC missed the scoring impact of Gilgeous-Alexander’s as nobody in the lineup reached 20 points, with Jalen Williams being the high scorer with 19 points on 22 shots. That couldn’t quite get the job done, even when winning the rebounding and turnover battles.
The Thunder now sets its focus on its upcoming opponent, the Brooklyn Nets. This could potentially be another night without Gilgeous-Alexander as he’s listed as a game-time decision before the team’s contest on Sunday evening.
But beyond that, a slew of impactful players for both teams will be sitting on the bench due to injury. For the Nets, it’s Cameron Johnson, Cam Thomas and Bojan Bogdanovic, among others. Johnson is the only player listed as questionable for Sunday night’s bout.
On Oklahoma City’s side, Isaiah Hartenstein still remains on the sideline with a calf strain, Chet Holmgren is yet to return from his hip fracture, and Ajay Mitchell’s toe injury has him out for the foreseeable months. All the while, Gilgeous-Alexander could possibly be coaching from the bench as well.
Though, this is a Brooklyn team who doesn’t frighten the Thunder. A 14-28 team, Oklahoma City will look to come inside Paycom Center with an edge as the team looks to recoup from its loss to Dallas just a couple nights prior. The Thunder has lost two consecutive games just once this season, and should be refined heading into Sunday to not make it happen twice.
Williams will have to take the scoring reigns and prove to be more efficient offensively in Gilgeous-Alexander’s absence. Working without three of his right hand men, this is where Williams can separate himself and showcase his ability to win a game as the primary point of leadership on Sunday night.
Want to join the discussion? Like Thunder on SI on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest Thunder news. You can also meet the team behind the coverage.
Oklahoma
Inmate dies after being found unresponsive at Oklahoma County Detention Center
A man being held at the Oklahoma County Detention Center died Saturday evening after being found unresponsive during routine sight checks, authorities said.
Vincent Riggie, 37, was discovered around 7:10 p.m., according to jail officials. An officer called for medical assistance and began administering lifesaving measures, including Narcan.
Emergency responders from EMSA and the Oklahoma City Fire Department arrived shortly after and continued efforts to revive Riggie. However, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Riggie, who was born Oct. 2, 1987, had been booked into the jail on Nov. 4, 2024, on charges of aggravated trafficking of illegal drugs and possession of a controlled substance. He was being held on a $50,000 bond.
The circumstances surrounding Riggie’s death are under investigation. As per standard protocol, all in-custody deaths are investigated as homicides until the Oklahoma State Medical Examiner’s Office determines the official cause and manner of death.
Riggie’s family has been notified.
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