Miami Hurricanes Set to Face Oklahoma State Cowboys in Charleston Classic

The Miami Hurricanes and the Oklahoma State Cowboys are both looking to recover from recent upset losses as they face each other on Friday afternoon in a consolation game at the Charleston Classic.

Miami, which currently holds a record of 3-1, fell short against Drake in their previous outing with a 80-69 defeat. Notably, the Hurricanes never took the lead in this game, marking a challenging start to their tournament at Charleston, South Carolina. Oklahoma State Cowboys, who also hold a 3-1 record, failed to maintain a ten-point lead in their match against Florida Atlantic, eventually losing 86-78.

The upcoming game will be particularly significant for Arturo Dean, the backup point guard for Oklahoma State, as he returns to play against a team from his hometown. Dean, who played for Florida International prior to joining the Cowboys, was the national leader in steals during the 2023-24 season with a total of 104.

«He takes tremendous pride in his defense,» commented Steve Lutz, head coach of the Cowboys. «You don’t achieve 100-plus steals by accident.» Coach Jim Larranaga of the Hurricanes anticipates a challenging match with Oklahoma State due to the size advantage held by some of their players. «They’ve got some really big guys,» Larranaga said. «We haven’t played that type yet this season.»

The Cowboys feature formidable players like Abou Ousmane and Robert Jennings II, who stand at 6-foot-10 and 6-foot-7 respectively. Jennings recorded 14 points and 11 rebounds against Florida Atlantic, with Khalil Brantley leading the team with 16 points.

The game also represents a rebuilding phase for Oklahoma State, which has been predicted to place 14th out of 16 in the Big 12 conference, according to preseason votes by head coaches. Lutz is in his first year with the Cowboys, a team that has seen only one NCAA Tournament appearance over the past seven years.

Miami will be seeking redemption after their defense struggled against Drake, particularly in managing screens and controlling the offensive rebounds. Two of the Hurricanes’ starters, Lynn Kidd and Brandon Johnson, will aim to improve their performances, following a game where Kidd managed only two points and Johnson seven.

Nijel Pack emerged as a top scorer for the Hurricanes in their last game, accumulating 17 points and raising his average to 15.3 points per game. Alongside him, Matthew Cleveland and Jalen Blackmon contributed 12 points each against the Bulldogs.