Mike Boynton to Face Alma Mater in Big 12/SEC Challenge

Oklahoma State head coach Mike Boynton will face his alma mater when the Cowboys host the South Carolina Gamecocks in the 2019 Big 12/SEC Challenge.

Boynton, now in his second year with the Cowboys, played for the Gamecocks from 2000 to 2004. During that time, Boynton finished in the top ten in three-pointers made and was a part of South Carolina’s 2004 NCAA Tournament run.

The Gamecocks, who are just one year removed from a Final Four appearance, finished the 2017 season with a 17-16 record. After losing eight scholarship players in the offseason before this year, USC struggled in the back half of the season, which included a six-game skid in January and February.

For the 2018 season, the team returns three starters in Chris Silva, Maik Kotsar and Justin Minaya. Silva, a first-team All-SEC forward, was awarded the SEC Defensive Player of the Year and led the team in scoring in 2017.

This will be the third time the Cowboys and Gamecocks have played in the interconference series. OSU won the first contest in 2013, 72-59, and the Gamecocks won the second, 75-49, the following year.

Other notable matchups include West Virginia at Tennessee, Kansas State at Texas A&M and Kansas at Kentucky.

The Cowboys will take on the Gamecocks inside Gallagher Iba Arena on Jan. 26.

The SEC/Big 12 Challenge is a great event, but also a huge tease considering how far out of its way it goes to not give fans the matchups they actually want to see, other than KU/UK. No in-state opponent for A&M. No Mizzou. Plenty of other far more fun made-for-TV matchups. pic.twitter.com/Tn4aPVsTAC

— David Ubben (@davidubben) May 24, 2018