Big 12 wins are arduous to come by, and Oklahoma is not any stranger to the wrestle.
But OU lastly obtained off the mark on Saturday, leaning on Jalen Hill’s eight factors within the final 1:35 of additional time to notch the Sooners’ first convention win of the season.
After main by as many as 13 factors within the second half, Porter Moser’s Sooners lastly downed the Texas Tech Red Raiders 68-63 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock.
As the groups ready for the stretch run, the Sooners appeared to be in command, however a well-recognized face returned to hang-out Oklahoma.
OU was Up 48-35 with 8:45 to play, however former Sooner guard De’Vion Harmon led a livid comeback to attempt to hand his former crew a 3rd straight convention loss to begin Big 12 play.
Harmon poured in 19 of his 23 factors within the second half, together with eight factors over the ultimate 5 minutes of regulation to pressure additional time.
Hill’s additional time heroics allowed him to end as OU’s co-leading scorer with 18 factors on 7-of-15 capturing, with 9 rebounds, whereas true freshman Milos Uzan led the cost within the second half.
Uzan scored 16 of his 18 factors after halftime, together with two clutch free throws within the last seconds to ship the competition to additional time, silencing the Red Raider crowd time after time whereas Texas Tech climbed again into the sport.
Though OU’s (10-5 total, 1-2 Big 12) offense ultimately obtained right into a groove, the Sooners had to stand up to one other sluggish begin.
Oklahoma turned the ball over six instances within the first eight minutes, permitting the Red Raiders (10-5, 0-3) to construct a seven-point lead midway by way of the opening interval.
Texas Tech’s protection annoyed OU’s offense, main to handful of shot clock violations whereas Grant Sherfield settled into rhythm.
But the Sooner guard discovered his footing, ending with eight factors at halftime to assist march the Sooners again into the sport.
Moser’s crew paired Sherfield’s scoring with staunch protection — forcing 4 Red Raider turnovers within the last six minutes of the half — to take a 24-23 lead into the intermission.
The Sooners appeared to take management of the competition with 16 minutes left.
Scroll to Continue
First Sherfield, then Uzan and C.J. Noland all linked on 3-pointers to break a 27-27 impasse and put OU up by 9 factors.
Oklahoma’s momentum was damaged when Tanner Groves fouled out with 5:05 remaining, and Harmon’s Red Raiders took benefit.
With 3:30 left, Sherfield was unable to hit a runner driving to his proper.
The ball discovered Harmon in transition, who went coast-to-coast and absorbed contact from Hill, ending off a layup by way of the foul.
He sunk his free throw to reduce OU’s benefit to 52-48, making certain the Sooners would have to survive one other nervy end.
Harmon returned once more to torment his former crew, knotting the sport up at 54 with 1:15 remaining on a left-handed layup underneath the bucket.
As Oklahoma wasted possessions down the stretch, Kevin Obanor hit a layup with 23 seconds left to put the Red Raiders up by two.
On the opposite finish, Moser turned again to his freshman, and Uzan drew a foul.
He sunk Oklahoma’s second and third free throw makes an attempt of the evening, and the Sooner protection held to pressure additional time.
Sherfield completed the evening with 11 factors, 5 rebounds and 5 assists, and Groves additionally added seven factors and 10 rebounds to the trigger earlier than fouling out.Â
OU desperately wanted the win, because the street forward doesn’t get any simpler.
Next up, the Sooners will journey to Lawrence to tackle the No. 3-ranked Kansas Jayhawks at Allen Fieldhouse on Tuesday at 8 p.m.
Want to be part of the dialogue? Click here to turn out to be a member of the AllSooners message board neighborhood in the present day!
Sign up to your premium membership to AllSooners.com in the present day, and get entry to all the Fan Nation premium community!
Follow AllSooners on Twitter to keep up to date on all the newest OU news.
Get your OU tickets from SI Tickets HERE.
put up credit score to Source link