Cunningham and Likekele Expected to Play in Big 12 Opening Round Against West Virginia

STILLWATER – Big news for Mike Boynton and Co. as it seems Oklahoma State will have its two best players for the rematch against West Virginia.

It was reported both Cade Cunningham and Isaac Likekele practiced on Tuesday and are expected to play in the Cowboys’ Big 12 tournament opening round game against West Virginia in Kansas City, a source inside the program confirmed to Pokes Report. Matt Norlander of CBS Sports was the first to report the news.

Likekele has missed a significant amount of time over the past month, first with a foot injury sustained back in January, then with a hand injury sustained in practice ahead of the first Bedlam game. As for Cunningham, he suffered an ankle sprain in the final minute of the Baylor game this past Thursday, causing him to miss the West Virginia game this past Saturday.

Cunningham currently leads the Big 12 in scoring with 19.7 points per game, a performance which lead the Big 12 coaches to name him the Big 12 Player of the Year, as well as the Freshman of the Year. He also picked up multipled national All-America honors on Tuesday.

As for Likekele, he’s averaging 9.8 points and 6.9 rebounds per game in 18 games this season. His 6.9 rebounds per game leads the Cowboys this season.

Led by 31 points from Avery Anderson III in the absence of both Cunningham and Likekele the Cowboys knocked off the No. 6 Mountaineers this past Saturday on the road in Morgantown, WV, 85-80.

The Cowboys and Mountaineers meet the opening round of the Big 12 tournament, with tip scheduled for 10:30 a.m. CT in Kansas City. The game will be televised on ESPN2.