FACTS & STATS: Site: The Milk House (5,000) -- Orlando, Florida. Television: ESPNU. Home Record: MSU 1-0, OSU 4-0. Away Record: MSU 1-0, OSU 0-0. Neutral Record: MSU 0-1, OSU 0-1. Conference Record: MSU 0-0, OSU 0-0. Series Record: Oklahoma State leads, 2-1.

GAME NOTES: Fresh off a shockingly lopsided defeat, the fifth-ranked Michigan State Spartans continue play at the Old Spice Classic in Orlando against Oklahoma State today.

The Spartans played a Thanksgiving game against Maryland, and the result of that tilt was an 80-62 setback. They carried a 2-0 record in to that showdown, but both victories came over inferior competition. Clearly, Tom Izzo's Michigan State squad will drop in the rankings, although an impressive victory over the Cowboys today would shorten the fall.

Oklahoma State won its first four games of the season, all at home and all by double figures. Unfortunately, the winning streak came to an end yesterday as the Cowboys were outplayed by an outstanding Gonzaga team in an 83-71 loss. Back-to-back games against ranked teams this early in the season is a bit unusual, but Travis Ford will learn alot about his team in a span of 24 hours.

Oklahoma State has won two of its three all-time meetings with Michigan State.

The fact that Michigan State missed 15 of the 27 free throws that it attempted yesterday speaks to the fact that the team just never got into a groove against Maryland. The Spartans had five more turnovers than their counterparts and hit seven fewer shots from three-point range. Maryland led by just three points at intermission before outscoring Michigan State by 15 points over the final 20 minutes. Travis Walton played well in defeat for the Spartans, as he hit 8-of-10 shots from the field en route to 16 points. The only other double- digit scorer was Durrell Summers, as he contributed 10 points off the bench. Through three games, MSU is averaging 77.3 ppg while allowing 67.0 ppg. Raymar Morgan, who struggled yesterday, still leads the team in scoring with 15.7 ppg despite averaging under 22 minutes of action per contest. Kalin Lucas checks in with 12.0 ppg and 5.3 apg.

Against Gonzaga last night, Oklahoma State turned the ball over 19 times and shot just 37.3 percent from the floor, the two most obvious reasons that the team fell short. Also, a 9-of-17 showing from the foul line didn't help matters. Terrel Harris led the Cowboys in defeat with 17 points on the strength of a 3-of-3 effort from three-point range. Obi Muonelo came through with 16 points and 15 boards, and James Anderson rounded out a trio of double- digit scorers with 14 points. Through five outings, Anderson is generating 18.4 ppg on 53.6 percent efficiency from three-point range. He is pulling down 6.6 rpg as well. Harris, a 50 percent shooter from behind the arc, adds 17.8 ppg to the OSU lineup, while Byron Eaton posts 15.0 ppg to go with team-highs of 30 assists and 15 steals.

Expect a solid showing by Michigan State, which is eager to avenge the loss to Maryland. The Spartans are perhaps a bit overrated, but they will knock off Oklahoma State.

Predicted Outcome

Michigan State 77, Oklahoma State 70