Cowboys And Seminoles: OSU Looks To End FSU's Perfect Start

Oklahoma State gets another shot at a ranked, non-conference opponent when the Cowboys take on No. 19 Florida State at the Orange Bowl Classic in Sunrise, Florida Saturday. Tip is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT.

The Cowboys (7-2) have lost twice to ranked foes so far this season – getting smothered by No. 16 Texas A&M in Brooklyn 72-55 and falling 78-66 at home to No. 6 Wichita State last Saturday. Florida State gives OSU one more non-con test before the rugged Big 12 slate begins.

The Seminoles (9-0) are off to their best start since going 10-0 to start the 2003-04 season. FSU coach Leonard Hamilton started his head coaching career at Oklahoma State in 1987 with Bill Self as an assistant.

Junior guard Terance Mann leads the Noles in scoring with 15.6 per game. His leap from sophomore to junior has been reminiscent of Jeffrey Carroll’s last year. Mann has nearly doubled his scoring and assists averages and is shooting a career-high 64.5 percent from the field.

Senior guard Braian Angola is a sharpshooting wing who paces FSU with 21 threes. Senior forward Phil Cofer adds 12.3 points and 5.8 rebounds a night.

Oklahoma State dismissed two reserves – Davon Dillard and Zack Dawson – on Thursday for failing to meet team standards. The pair had already served short suspensions in the early part of the season.

Seven-foot center Yankuba Sima joins the Cowboys after sitting a year due to transfer rules. Sima is a shot-blocking specialist from St. John’s and has a chance to become one of the top shot-blockers in OSU history. He averaged 2.4 blocks per game as a freshman and just four Cowboys have ever averaged more than two blocks per game.