GAME NOTES: In the championship round of the MGM Grand Main Event, the Tulsa Golden Hurricane will collide with the Oklahoma State Cowboys.

Tulsa put the clamps on defensively against Auburn in Monday's semifinals, holding the Tigers to only two points during the last 10:39 of the game to earn a 53-35 victory. The Golden Hurricane improved to 3-1 with the victory. They face an enormous test next time out on the road against nationally-ranked Wichita State.

Oklahoma State performed admirably on defense as well in its semifinal bout with Oregon State, securing a 66-53 win in the process. The Cowboys have yet to suffer a loss through five games, although the matchup with the Beavers was their first outside of Stillwater. They will return home next time out against North Texas.

These in-state foes have met plenty of times in the past, with 107 all-time meetings between them. Oklahoma State has won 70 of those contests, including a 59-56 triumph during the 2011-12 season.

The Golden Hurricane were ruthless in their treatment of Auburn, holding the Tigers to just 31.3 percent shooting, including a miserable 2-of-22 showing from 3-point range. Tulsa performed well enough on offense to stretch out its advantage, sinking nine shots from beyond the arc as part of a 47.5 percent overall shooting effort. James Woodard netted 16 points and was joined in double figures by Rashad Ray (13 points) and Rashad Smith (12 points, eight rebounds).

Tight defense has been the key to Tulsa's 3-1 start. The Golden Hurricane are only giving up 51 points per game on 34.5 percent shooting, ranking among the top-30 teams in the country in each category, albeit in a small sample size. D'Andre Wright (12.5 ppg, 5.2 rpg) and Woodard (12.2 ppg) are the only consistent double-figure scorers for a team that is only putting up 62.5 points per game.

Oklahoma State's defensive display against Oregon State was a strong one as well, with the Cowboys surrendering only 53 points on 33.3 percent shooting to the Beavers. The Pokes also forced 17 turnovers in the victory, which they traded for 21 points. Le'Bryan Nash finished with 19 points in the game, while Phil Forte managed 17 in support.

Just like Tulsa, OSU has put up plenty of resistance at the defensive end of the court, limiting foes to just 54.6 points on 33.8 percent shooting. Nash (17.8 ppg, 7.2 rpg) and Forte (17.8 ppg, 3.8 spg) are the two most prominent scorers, with Forte also snatching up steals at an elevated rate.

Neither of these teams gives much of a reprieve on defense, or least they haven't yet. However, Oklahoma State has been the more balanced team, scoring 79.2 ppg compared to Tulsa's 62.5 ppg. That type of offensive might will come in handy in a game where points may be tough to come by.