Defense falters down the stretch

Oklahoma (3-11,13-14) gave Texas all they might deal with Saturday however wound up quick in an 85-83 loss to the Longhorns Saturday at Moody Center in Austin.

It was in regardless of of guard Grant Sherfield’s 18-points, together with a 3-pointer to send the game to overtime, the Sooners had been outscored 11-4 the remainder of the approach.

With the end result, the Sooners have misplaced their earlier 5 conferences with the Horns, together with six of its final seven.

Here are three takeaways from the Sooners’ effort towards Texas:

Foul hassle paid pricey down the stretch.

After a foul on Sam Godwin off a rebound, it was Texas’ flip to shoot free throws. The solely fear was it was only a shade of six minutes into the half. Oklahoma was already at seven fouls, with each forwards Tanner Groves and Sam Godwin at three.

By the 8-minute mark, Texas was taking pictures in the double-bonus. The fouls compelled the Sooners to play extra cautious, giving Texas extra room to function on offense. It paid dividends.

After Oklahoma held a seven-point lead at the 9:57-mark, Texas crawled again to a number of leads down the stretch.

The offensive assault was spearheaded by Sir’Jabari Rice, who completed with a game-high 24 factors, whereas draining three 3-pointers. Rice has been amongst the greatest sixth man in the complete nation and proved his value towards the Sooners.

A sport that was in the Sooners fingers had been taken away, via their very own fouls forcing Texas to play extra aggressive offensively. It led to Texas taking pictures 50% from the subject in the second half and 62.5% in time beyond regulation.

Finding a rhythm with out the 3-point line till they wanted to

When the Sooners offense has been at it’s greatest this season, they’ve relied closely on perimeter taking pictures success. Oklahoma nailed 11 of their win over No.12 Kansas State and related on 9 in a win over the present No.1 team in the Mock NCAA Tournament Bracket, Alabama.

Oklahoma made simply two of its 9 3-point makes an attempt in the first half, neither coming from leading-scorer guard Grant Sherfield.

With Texas having a four-point lead, Sherfield would discover his stroke, nailing two 3-pointers on consecutive possessions.

It grew to become an avalanche impact, with the Sooners hitting 5 in the remaining 20 minutes.

Bench steps up in an enormous approach

When Sam Godwin has gotten probabilities to assist increase the offense, he has been dependable all through the season. That was not the exception Saturday, checking in and serving to Oklahoma jumpstart previous Texas to a 10-4 begin.

Both of his pictures had been from inside the key, together with an and-1 he ended up changing.

Toward the again half of the first, Joe Bamisile entered the fray. After being down 4 and an opportunity for Texas to open their cushion, Bamisile stepped up with a breakaway layup and a nook 3-pointer the following possession. It compelled a Rodney Terry timeout and gave the Sooners an opportunity to complete the half sturdy.

The two completed in double-figures in scoring combining for 25. It was a really productive day from the unit exterior the beginning 5 and helped pave the approach for a possible upset.

The Sooners proceed their treacherous stretch via the finish of Big 12 play, with a 8 p.m. Tuesday bout with Texas Tech in Norman.

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