STILLWATER - The (8-0) OSU Cowboys will travel to the Grand Canyon State to take on the (5-3) Grand Canyon Lopes Saturday night.

Here are some opening tips: The Oklahoma State Cowboys look to continue their best start in nearly two decades when they face the Grand Canyon Lopes in neutral site showdown at the Mortgage Matchup Center -- home of the NBA’s Phoenix Suns.

The first-ever men’s basketball meeting between the Cowboys and Lopes is also the first half of a doubleheader that includes Arizona State and Oklahoma.

Balanced offense and a blistering tempo have helped OSU emerge as one of college basketball’s biggest early-season surprises. The Cowboys (8-0) enter Saturday as one of just 15 remaining unbeatens in the Division I ranks.

The Pokes survived a scare on Tuesday night, when they trailed visiting Sam Houston, 43-36, at halftime before rallying for a 93-83 win. Parsa Fallah scored 24 points on 10-of-13 shooting, Anthony Roy added 20, and Lefteris Mantzoukas grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds.

OSU’s eight-game winning streak is its longest at any point since an 11-0 start to the 2006-07 season.

The hot start has garnered national attention, with the Cowboys now receiving top 25 votes in both major polls.

OSU owns four wins against NET top 100 opponents: Northwestern (60), Texas A&M (71), Sam Houston (76) and USF (78).

The Cowboys are averaging 92.3 points on 49.1% shooting and have out-rebounded every opponent, posting a +9.4 margin on the glass.

Seven Cowboys average seven-or-more points per game, led by sophomore guard Vyctorius Miller (15.9 ppg), and the point guard duo of Jaylen Curry (5.3 apg) and Kanye Clary (5.1 apg) have combined for a 2.70 assist-toturnover ratio.

Fallah, an Oregon State transfer, is shooting a Big 12-best 65.6% clip. He led the West Coast Conference in that category last season (.598) and did the same in the WAC during his sophomore year at Southern Utah (.570).

According to KenPom, OSU ranks fourth nationally in adjusted tempo.

The Cowboys are the first team in school history to score 85+ points in eight straight games. The previous mark (7) was set by the 1980-81 team.

The Pokes will have seven days off before next Saturday’s Bedlam doubleheader at the Paycom Center. The men’s teams tip off at Noon CT followed by the women at 3 p.m.

GCU is one of three firsttime foes on OSU’s 202526 schedule. The Cowboys defeated Northwestern on Thanksgiving night and will close out the non-conference slate against Bethune Cookman on Dec. 29 in Stillwater.

Saturday’s game takes place exactly 32 years and one day since the last OSU visit to the Mortgage Matchup Center. On Dec. 5, 1993, the eighth-ranked Cowboys faced No. 19 Arizona in a top 25 showdown. The arena was a little over a year old at the time.

A Cowboy win would...

Make them 9-0, extending the best start and longest winning streak by a Cowboy team in nearly two decades. OSU opened the 2006-07 season with 11 consecutive victories.

Be the eleventh 9-0 start in program history.

Be their first at the Mortgage Matchup Center (1-1).

Make them 26-18 in parts of two seasons under head coach Steve Lutz.

Boost Lutz’s five-year career record to 95-53.

A Cowboy loss would...

Be their first of the season after an 8-0 start.

Keep them winless all-time at the Mortgage Matchup Center (0-2).

Up Next:

OSU vs. Oklahoma (OKC/Paycom Center) Saturday, Dec. 13 | Noon CT (FOX) The Cowboys will line up against Oklahoma next Saturday in Oklahoma City as part of a Bedlam Basketball doubleheader at the Paycom Center. The men’s teams tip at Noon CT, followed by the women at 3 p.m.

One ticket is good for both games. To secure seats in the OSU section, visit okstate.com/Bedlam-OKC.

The 251st men’s basketball installment of the Bedlam rivalry marks the 99th consecutive season that the schools have met on the hardwood. The Cowboys and Sooners were conference mates 1958 to 2024 (Big Eight then Big 12).