On December 5, 2026, the Oklahoma State Cowboys will welcome the Saint Mary's Gaels to Gallagher‑Iba Arena for a much‑anticipated early‑season showdown.
A Rare Reunion
The meeting marks the first clash between the two programs in three decades and only the third in their history, with the previous two encounters also taking place in Stillwater and ending in narrow victories for the Cowboys in 1946 and 1996.
Saint Mary's will enter the game under new leadership, as Mickey McConnell begins his inaugural season as head coach, succeeding longtime architect Randy Bennett.
The Gaels have become a fixture in the NCAA tournament over the past five years, advancing to the Round of 32 on three of those occasions.
Oklahoma State, fresh off a 20‑win campaign and a second‑round NIT run, will be led by third‑year head coach Steve Lutz, who has assembled a roster bolstered by a top‑ranked transfer portal class and a consensus top‑10 high school signing group.
The upcoming contest offers both schools a chance to test new systems and build momentum heading into conference play, while also renewing a rivalry that has produced some of the program’s most memorable finishes.
Fans on both coasts can look forward to a game that blends tradition with fresh storylines, as the Cowboys aim to extend their recent resurgence and the Gaels seek to translate their tournament pedigree into a strong start to the new season.