u men's gameday

7:30 p.m. VS. OKLA. STATE • BTN, 1500-AM

Gophers at a glance: After consecutive home losses vs. South Dakota and South Dakota State, Minnesota has four losses through nine games for the first time since the 2006-07 season. The Gophers, who have dropped three of their past five, have shot below 37 percent from the field in each of the past two games. Backup center Gaston Diedhiou missed Tuesday's game with a left leg injury. It's unclear whether he'll be available on Saturday.

Oklahoma State at a glance: The Cowboys are coming off two losses at home, to Tulsa and Missouri State. The Gophers beat the latter 74-69 in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off, the only win Minnesota notched on the island. At 5-3, OSU is off to its worst start through eight games since 2008-09. Senior guards Phil Forte (13.3 ppg) and Jeff Newbury (13) lead the Cowboys, but there's a chance neither will play Saturday. Forte has been out since Nov. 19 after tearing a ligament in his left elbow. Newberry left OSU's game against Missouri late after a collision caused an apparent head injury.

AMELIA RAYNO