K-State Wildcats vs. OSU Cowboys: TV info, game time, lineups and score prediction

The Kansas State men’s basketball team will try to remain on top of the Big 12 standings when it hosts Oklahoma State on Saturday inside Bramlage Coliseum.

Here’s everything you need to know before tipoff, plus a score prediction:

When: 6 p.m. Saturday

Where: Bramlage Coliseum (Manhattan)

TV: None

Stream: ESPN+

Radio: KCSP (610 AM) in Kansas City, KFH (1240 AM and 97.5 FM) in Wichita

Betting line: K-State by 8.5

Over/Under: 132.5

STARTING LINEUPS

About Oklahoma State (8-9, 0-4):

The Cowboys are not having a good season. Mike Boynton’s team has lost all four of its first four conference games and now sits with an overall record below .500. Oklahoma State has particularly struggled away from home, losing all three of its true road games to Southern Illinois, Texas Tech and Iowa State. Javon Small leads the team in scoring but Bryce Thompson isn’t far behind. The Cowboys have struggled to score this season but they do shoot the ball well from 3-point range, averaging 35.8%.

About Kansas State (13-4, 3-1):

The Wildcats are coming off a thrilling overtime victory against Baylor. That win put them back in a first-place tie with Baylor, KU and Texas Tech in the Big 12 standings. K-State has been winning with defense lately. It is only allowing 60.7 points per game in Big 12 play. That is a good thing, because it is only averaging 71.2 points on offense. K-State has been at its best defending two-pointers, allowing opponents to make just 44.5% of their shots. Cam Carter has separated himself as the team’s leading scorer in recent weeks.

Oklahoma State at K-State prediction

This is a game that the Wildcats should win.

It is also a game that the Wildcats absolutely, positively have to win.

There is no such thing as an easy game in the Big 12, but this comes close. Oklahoma State enters this weekend with a losing record. It also hasn’t been competitive in its recent road games. The Cowboys went to Texas Tech and got flattened 90-73 and then lost at Iowa State 66-42.

K-State needs to take advantage before it heads into a brutal string of games that includes road contests at Iowa State and Houston next week.

Odds are, that will happen. The Wildcats are 9-1 at home this season and they are unlikely to take the Cowboys lightly. Despite their struggles this season, they still have talented players like Bryce Thompson on the roster. And they are capable of pulling off an upset inside Bramlage Coliseum if K-State doesn’t come ready to play.

The spread is high in this game, which could make it hard for K-State to cover with an over/under points total set at 132.5. Did you know the Wildcats have actually gone under in nine of their past 10 games?

Expect the Wildcats to win, but don’t be surprised if Oklahoma State keeps it within single digits.

K-State 68, Oklahoma State 60

Last game prediction: K-State 74, Baylor 69. (Actual result: K-State 68, Baylor 64)

Season Record: 15-2

Season Record ATS: 9-8

Season Record O/U: 12-5