Preview: Oklahoma State Cowboys at Cincinnati Bearcats

CINCINNATI (Interstat) — Two Big 12 teams seeking momentum for the postseason will meet Saturday when the Oklahoma State Cowboys visit the Cincinnati Bearcats at Fifth Third Arena.

Oklahoma State (17-11, 6-9 Big 12) arrives after snapping a five-game skid with a 91-84 overtime victory over West Virginia on Tuesday. Guard Kanye Clary led the way with 17 points and six assists in 42 minutes. The Cowboys’ recent struggles have been defined by offensive inconsistency, including a 47-point outing in a loss at Arizona on Feb. 7.

Cincinnati (15-13, 8-7) looks to rebound from a 68-80 road loss at Texas Tech, which halted a three-game winning streak. The Bearcats’ recent surge has been fueled by center Moustapha Thiam, who averaged 19.8 points over his last four games, including a 28-point, 8-rebound performance in an impressive 84-68 win at Kansas on Feb. 21.

The matchup features a compelling contrast in styles. Oklahoma State relies on Clary’s backcourt playmaking, while Cincinnati’s fortunes often hinge on the 7-foot Thiam’s interior presence. The Bearcats won the first meeting this season, 72-68, in Stillwater on Jan. 10.

Both teams are battling for positioning ahead of the Big 12 tournament. A win would bolster Cincinnati’s case for a potential NIT bid, while Oklahoma State aims to climb back to .500 in conference play.

Saturday’s game tips off at 2 p.m. EST and will be televised on ESPN2. Following this contest, Oklahoma State travels to UCF on Tuesday, while Cincinnati hosts BYU.