Oklahoma State eyeing rare 8-0 start as Sam Houston visits

Oklahoma State will strive to keep its best start in six years going when it hosts Sam Houston on Tuesday in Stillwater, Okla.

The Cowboys have opened their season with seven straight wins, their best start and longest winning streak since the 2019-20 season. With a win against Sam Houston (5-2), Oklahoma State would creep closer to the 2006-07 team that won 11 in a row.

They're also doing it in style; Oklahoma State has scored at least 85 points in every game. The most recent win was an 86-81 decision against Northwestern on Thanksgiving night in Chicago.

Jaylen Curry (16 points per game) led Oklahoma State with 18 points, 16 of which came in the opening half. Leading scorer Vyctorius Miller (17.4 ppg) added 17 points and Anthony Roy (14 ppg) got hot down the stretch with 14 of his 16 points in the final eight minutes.

"Let's put the best guards on the floor," said Oklahoma State coach Steve Lutz about Curry and Kanye Clary (five assists). "If those guys are playing well, I'd love to have them on the floor together because they make the game easier for their teammates. You can push the ball up the floor with ease and they aren't typically able to be pressed."

While the Cowboys are off to a torrid start, the Bearkats (5-2) have won four straight games and were undefeated at the Holiday Hoops Classic in Boise. Sam Houston notched an 84-81 win over Idaho State last Wednesday and a 94-68 win against Idaho last Friday.

Justin Begg (11 ppg) tops four players that score in double figures. Against Idaho, Isaiah Manning led Sam Houston with 18 points, Jacobe Coleman added 17 points and Jaxson Ford chipped in 10 points -- none started the game yet played a big factor in its outcome.

The Bearkats have averaged 87.4 points per game, 8.7 made 3-pointers and are shooting 47.3% from the field.

"You will not come to a game and leave bored," said Sam Houston coach Chris Mudge. "We are going to play fast and get up and down the floor with a lot of passion and energy."

--Field Level Media