Thursday, March 20, 6:27 PM on TRU

Spokane Arena, Spokane, Washington

Opening Lines & Odds - Oklahoma -4 -- Over/Under: 150

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

The 5 seed Oklahoma Sooners (23-9, 12-6 Big 12) take on the 12 seed North Dakota State Bison (25-6, 12-2 Summit) on Thursday in Spokane, WA. The Sooners come into the tourney ranked much higher than most would have assumed. Still in a rebuilding stage, their great effort this year was more expected to come, at the earliest, next year. Regardless of their early exit in the Big-12 tournament, they had a good season and look to prolong it.

The Bison just won their Summit League Conference title and are not newcomers to the tournament. They are veterans in the Big Dance and some experts even see them cruising to at least the Sweet 16. The Bison led the league in shot blocking and can make it very difficult for any team, let alone an Oklahoma team that tends to show frustrations very easily. The Sooners depend on their scoring. They are the eighth-highest scoring team in the nation but if that's taken away, their defense may not be able to hold up their end of the bargain.

Leading scorers for the Sooners are Buddy Hield and Cameron Clark and their rebounding menace is Ryan Spanger. The Bison have scoring threats of their own. Taylor Braun averages 18.2 points, Marshall Bjorklund averages 13.4 points, and TrayVonn Wright averages 11.5 points per game and their contributions will all be needed if they are going to take down the Sooners. It will be another one of those games where it can go either way.

ATS Trends

Oklahoma is 20-11-0 ATS this season

Oklahoma is 17-12-0 against the over/under this season

North Dakota State is 12-14-0 ATS this season

North Dakota State is 12-11-0 against the over/under this season

Injuries to Watch

Oklahoma 

No injuries to report at this time

North Dakota State 

No injuries to report at this time

Tony's Pick: Take North Dakota State

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