Waco, TX (SportsNetwork. Vans Old Skool Black Sale .com) - Ranked rivals in the Big 12 Conference get together on Saturday evening, as No. 19 Oklahoma pays a visit to No. 21 Baylor. Oklahoma has won twice as many games as it has lost this season (12-6), but the start of Big 12 play has been anything but kind to the squad as it is an even 3-3 in conference. The Sooners dropped an 85-78 decision at Kansas last Monday in what was their third loss in the last four games overall. It also meant OU is just 2-3 in true road tilts this season. Baylor took on visiting NAIA foe Huston-Tillotson in its most recent outing, and probably felt a bit too comfortable at the outset as it needed a potent second half to break open what had been a close game at the break. The 81-61 victory was the teams third in the last four games, and elevated its home record to 10-1 on the season. BU now dives back into Big 12 play where it is just 2-3. Oklahoma owns a commanding 42-11 lead in the all-time series with Baylor, and that includes a 73-63 victory in the first meeting between the two this season in Norman on Jan. 5. The Sooners have won 36 of the last 41 meetings, and they are 17-5 in games played in Waco. Buddy Hield poured in 26 points and Isaiah Cousins added 18 more, but those efforts werent enough to propel the Sooners to victory in their latest clash with Kansas. Ryan Spangler tacked on 13 points and Jordan Woodward 10 of his own for Oklahoma, which shot just 40 percent from the field, going 8-of-25 from 3-point range in the process. Spangler wound up with a double-double as he grabbed 10 of the teams 36 rebounds on the night. Kansas, which hit its first eight 3-point tries in the contest and put five players in double figures, made good on 48.3 percent of its total shots. Hield has been a consistent offensive force for Oklahoma all season long, as he averages 18.1 ppg in knocking down nearly 40 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc. Cousins (12.8 ppg, 5.7 rpg) and TaShawn Thomas (11.1 ppg, 5.8 rpg) are netting double figures as well, helping the team muster up 73.3 ppg while permitting only 62.6 ppg. Spangler is close to joining the ranks, as he tallies 9.7 ppg to go with his team-high 8.3 rpg. The Sooners hold minimal advantages in both rebounding (+1.8) and turnover (+0.8) differentials. Rico Gathers had a record-setting performance in Baylors recent triumph over Huston-Tillotson as he scored 25 points and grabbed a whopping 28 rebounds. His scoring number was career high, while his rebounding total set a new Big 12 mark. Royce ONeale and Kenny Chery, the only BU players averaging more than 30 minutes per game, got a well-deserved night off. Gathers, who had 11 points and 16 boards at intermission, got help from Taurean Prince and Al Freeman who tallied 13 and 10 points, respectively. The Bears were successful on only 5-of-21 3-point attempts, but went 20-of-26 at the free-throw line. BU committed 17 turnovers, but doubled up the Rams on the boards, 60-30. Prince (12.2 ppg, 5.5 rpg), Chery (11.2 ppg) and Gathers (10.8 ppg, 12.2 rpg) are all averaging double digits in the scoring column for Baylor, the latter also turning the trick in rebounds, and the team as a whole is generating 69.3 ppg. ONeale and Johnathan Motley are both close to joining the mix as they net 9.7 ppg each for a team that is holding its opponents to a minuscule 57.8 ppg on typical shooting outputs of .390 overall and .297 from 3-point land. A massive +11.1 edge on the glass has certainly played an integral role in the team achieving many of its goals this season. Vans Slip On Clearance .Connor Graham, Alex Lintuniemi and Sam Studnicka also scored for Ottawa (11-8-2). Liam Herbst made 21 saves for the win.Brendan Lemieux had both of Barries (10-10-2) goals. Cheap Vans Shoes . Hawkins severely sprained his left ankle while making a diving catch during training camp and went on injured reserve with a designation he could return midway through the season. He was back at practice Wednesday.Michael van Gerwen will be roared on by home support when he faces Phil Taylor in a top-of-the-table decider in Rotterdam on Thursday night, live on Sky Sports. The world No 1 and Taylor are separated only by leg difference as the Premier League makes its first stop in the Netherlands for the concluding night of the regular season.With just one match remaining, Van Gerwen, Taylor and Gary Anderson have all booked their places on play-off night at The O2, but Adrian Lewis and Peter Wright are still battling for the final spot in the top four. Phil Taylor gives his thoughts after going joint-top of the Premier League table with Michael van Gerwen, who he faces in Rotterdam Robert Thornton v James Wade Peter Wright ended James Wades challenge for a top-four place Wade is playing purely for pride after his hopes of taking fourth place were shattered by last weeks 7-1 defeat to Wright.Both men badly needed victory to stay in contention and Wright dictated a nervy battle, finding the double after loose darts from Wade.The end of a difficult campaign could come as a relief to Thornton, who has picked up just two wins since the opening night.Peter Wright v Raymond van Barneveld Peter Wright could still book his place in the play-offs if Lewis slips up Wright can pile more pressure on the fourth-placed Lewis with a win over the home favourite Van Barneveld. Snakebite appears to have rediscovered his form at just the right time and holds a win over Van Barneveld from week two.But Barney loves the big stage and the popular veteran will not want to disappoint his legion of fans. Adrian Lewis v Gary Anderson Adrian Lewis will be looking anxiously over his shoulder if he loses to Gary Anderson Lewis will need a result from his match with defending champion Anderson if Wright leapfrogs him into fourth with a win in the earlier match. Vans Shoes Clearance. . Victory will end any lingering qualification concerns for Lewis, but Anderson completed a comfortable 7-4 win when the pair met earlier in week seven.The Flying Scotsman has gone five matches unbeaten, including last weeks 7-1 demolition of compatriot Robert Thornton.Phil Taylor v Michael van Gerwen Phil Taylor will be trying to strike a psychological blow before play-off night The top two players in the Premier League will share the oche again in an eagerly awaited showdown which will decide who finishes in first place.Van Gerwen and Taylor played out an exciting draw on night seven and then shared a lively post-match interview, with The Power telling his rival: Im coming for you. Michael van Gerwen almost pulled off a nine-darter against compatriot Raymond van Barneveld in Manchester Van Gerwen cruised to a 7-2 win in his all-Dutch battle with Raymond van Barneveld on night 14, while Taylor matched him by pulling off a 7-2 victory over Lewis.Me and Michael are going to have a cracker next week, Taylor said after he set up a thrilling clash with Van Gerwen.Hes on his home turf and its going to be strange, but its all about that £25,000 bonus.I wanted to qualify for the play-offs and Ive done that and then I set my sights on the bonus for finishing top, and its a massive incentive.Watch all of the Premier League matches this Thursday night, starting at 7pm on Sky Sports 1. Also See: PL Darts talking points MVG too hot for Barney WATCH: MVGs near nine-darter Darts betting ' ' '
Waco, TX (SportsNetwork. Vans Old Skool Black Sale .com) - Ranked rivals in the Big 12 Conference get together on Saturday evening, as No. 19 Oklahoma pays a visit to No. 21 Baylor. Oklahoma has won twice as many games as it has lost this season (12-6), but the start of Big 12 play has been anything but kind to the squad as it is an even 3-3 in conference. The Sooners dropped an 85-78 decision at Kansas last Monday in what was their third loss in the last four games overall. It also meant OU is just 2-3 in true road tilts this season. Baylor took on visiting NAIA foe Huston-Tillotson in its most recent outing, and probably felt a bit too comfortable at the outset as it needed a potent second half to break open what had been a close game at the break. The 81-61 victory was the teams third in the last four games, and elevated its home record to 10-1 on the season. BU now dives back into Big 12 play where it is just 2-3. Oklahoma owns a commanding 42-11 lead in the all-time series with Baylor, and that includes a 73-63 victory in the first meeting between the two this season in Norman on Jan. 5. The Sooners have won 36 of the last 41 meetings, and they are 17-5 in games played in Waco. Buddy Hield poured in 26 points and Isaiah Cousins added 18 more, but those efforts werent enough to propel the Sooners to victory in their latest clash with Kansas. Ryan Spangler tacked on 13 points and Jordan Woodward 10 of his own for Oklahoma, which shot just 40 percent from the field, going 8-of-25 from 3-point range in the process. Spangler wound up with a double-double as he grabbed 10 of the teams 36 rebounds on the night. Kansas, which hit its first eight 3-point tries in the contest and put five players in double figures, made good on 48.3 percent of its total shots. Hield has been a consistent offensive force for Oklahoma all season long, as he averages 18.1 ppg in knocking down nearly 40 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc. Cousins (12.8 ppg, 5.7 rpg) and TaShawn Thomas (11.1 ppg, 5.8 rpg) are netting double figures as well, helping the team muster up 73.3 ppg while permitting only 62.6 ppg. Spangler is close to joining the ranks, as he tallies 9.7 ppg to go with his team-high 8.3 rpg. The Sooners hold minimal advantages in both rebounding (+1.8) and turnover (+0.8) differentials. Rico Gathers had a record-setting performance in Baylors recent triumph over Huston-Tillotson as he scored 25 points and grabbed a whopping 28 rebounds. His scoring number was career high, while his rebounding total set a new Big 12 mark. Royce ONeale and Kenny Chery, the only BU players averaging more than 30 minutes per game, got a well-deserved night off. Gathers, who had 11 points and 16 boards at intermission, got help from Taurean Prince and Al Freeman who tallied 13 and 10 points, respectively. The Bears were successful on only 5-of-21 3-point attempts, but went 20-of-26 at the free-throw line. BU committed 17 turnovers, but doubled up the Rams on the boards, 60-30. Prince (12.2 ppg, 5.5 rpg), Chery (11.2 ppg) and Gathers (10.8 ppg, 12.2 rpg) are all averaging double digits in the scoring column for Baylor, the latter also turning the trick in rebounds, and the team as a whole is generating 69.3 ppg. ONeale and Johnathan Motley are both close to joining the mix as they net 9.7 ppg each for a team that is holding its opponents to a minuscule 57.8 ppg on typical shooting outputs of .390 overall and .297 from 3-point land. A massive +11.1 edge on the glass has certainly played an integral role in the team achieving many of its goals this season. Vans Slip On Clearance .Connor Graham, Alex Lintuniemi and Sam Studnicka also scored for Ottawa (11-8-2). Liam Herbst made 21 saves for the win.Brendan Lemieux had both of Barries (10-10-2) goals. Cheap Vans Shoes . Hawkins severely sprained his left ankle while making a diving catch during training camp and went on injured reserve with a designation he could return midway through the season. He was back at practice Wednesday.Michael van Gerwen will be roared on by home support when he faces Phil Taylor in a top-of-the-table decider in Rotterdam on Thursday night, live on Sky Sports. The world No 1 and Taylor are separated only by leg difference as the Premier League makes its first stop in the Netherlands for the concluding night of the regular season.With just one match remaining, Van Gerwen, Taylor and Gary Anderson have all booked their places on play-off night at The O2, but Adrian Lewis and Peter Wright are still battling for the final spot in the top four. Phil Taylor gives his thoughts after going joint-top of the Premier League table with Michael van Gerwen, who he faces in Rotterdam Robert Thornton v James Wade Peter Wright ended James Wades challenge for a top-four place Wade is playing purely for pride after his hopes of taking fourth place were shattered by last weeks 7-1 defeat to Wright.Both men badly needed victory to stay in contention and Wright dictated a nervy battle, finding the double after loose darts from Wade.The end of a difficult campaign could come as a relief to Thornton, who has picked up just two wins since the opening night.Peter Wright v Raymond van Barneveld Peter Wright could still book his place in the play-offs if Lewis slips up Wright can pile more pressure on the fourth-placed Lewis with a win over the home favourite Van Barneveld. Snakebite appears to have rediscovered his form at just the right time and holds a win over Van Barneveld from week two.But Barney loves the big stage and the popular veteran will not want to disappoint his legion of fans. Adrian Lewis v Gary Anderson Adrian Lewis will be looking anxiously over his shoulder if he loses to Gary Anderson Lewis will need a result from his match with defending champion Anderson if Wright leapfrogs him into fourth with a win in the earlier match. Vans Shoes Clearance. . Victory will end any lingering qualification concerns for Lewis, but Anderson completed a comfortable 7-4 win when the pair met earlier in week seven.The Flying Scotsman has gone five matches unbeaten, including last weeks 7-1 demolition of compatriot Robert Thornton.Phil Taylor v Michael van Gerwen Phil Taylor will be trying to strike a psychological blow before play-off night The top two players in the Premier League will share the oche again in an eagerly awaited showdown which will decide who finishes in first place.Van Gerwen and Taylor played out an exciting draw on night seven and then shared a lively post-match interview, with The Power telling his rival: Im coming for you. Michael van Gerwen almost pulled off a nine-darter against compatriot Raymond van Barneveld in Manchester Van Gerwen cruised to a 7-2 win in his all-Dutch battle with Raymond van Barneveld on night 14, while Taylor matched him by pulling off a 7-2 victory over Lewis.Me and Michael are going to have a cracker next week, Taylor said after he set up a thrilling clash with Van Gerwen.Hes on his home turf and its going to be strange, but its all about that £25,000 bonus.I wanted to qualify for the play-offs and Ive done that and then I set my sights on the bonus for finishing top, and its a massive incentive.Watch all of the Premier League matches this Thursday night, starting at 7pm on Sky Sports 1. Also See: PL Darts talking points MVG too hot for Barney WATCH: MVGs near nine-darter Darts betting ' ' '