Texas guard Sir’Jabari Rice (10) reacts after scoring towards Oklahoma in the course of the second half of an NCAA faculty basketball recreation in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — When Texas is engaged in an in depth recreation, it could actually name on expertise, vitality and poise. The No. 6 Longhorns wanted all of that towards Oklahoma on Saturday.
Senior reserve Sir’Jabari Rice scored 19 of his game-high 24 points in the second half and additional time, and Texas held off the Sooners 85-83.
The Longhorns (21-6, 10-4 Big 12) haven’t misplaced two straight video games all season. They are 7-0 below interim coach Rodney Terry in video games determined by 5 points or fewer or in additional time, together with a 70-69 victory at Oklahoma on Dec 31.
“I see in Texas the veteran, tough mentality,” Oklahoma coach Porter Moser stated.
Rice’s fourth 3-pointer of the sport gave Texas an 84-77 lead with 2:26 left in additional time.
Oklahoma had an opportunity to tie or win when Texas’ Tyrese Hunter missed one among two free throws with 6.8 seconds left. But Sam Godwin missed a shot from close to the rim, and Texas prolonged its profitable streak towards Oklahoma to 5 video games.
Marcus Carr added 17 points for Texas and Timmy Allen had 15 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists. Both are seniors, as is Dylan Disu, who scored 12.
Though the Longhorns made a number of clutch photographs, Terry cited different elements that have been crucial.
“We forced 18 turnovers, and we had 19 assists,” Terry stated, calling it “the difference in the game.”
Grant Sherfield led Oklahoma (13-14, 3-11) with 18 points, together with a 3-pointer that despatched the sport to additional time. Milos Uzan scored 15 for the Sooners. The Sooners’ top massive man, Tanner Groves, fouled out with 2:30 left in regulation.
The Longhorns led by 5 with 1:30 remaining in regulation, however the Sooners secured two offensive rebounds and Sherfield’s powerful 3 got here with 7 seconds left.
“(Sherfield) made a great play, a step back, hit a great shot,” Carr stated.
Carr missed a bounce shot — an opportunity to win — on the buzzer in regulation.
Oklahoma led 67-61 with six minutes remaining, however Texas took a 70-67 lead a minute later with consecutive 3-point baskets by Rice, a first-year Longhorn who transferred from New Mexico State. Rice’s 24 points are double his common and matched his season finest. He transformed 8 of 13 discipline aim makes an attempt, together with 4 of 6 3-pointers, and 4 of 5 free throws.
(*6*) Moser stated. “He’s so good. Look how efficient he was.”
The recreation was tied at halftime at 34 largely as a consequence of defensive lapses by Texas. The Sooners created a 24-12 edge in points in the paint and had an 8-2 benefit in fast-break points. Sometimes Texas did not retreat rapidly sufficient in transition, and different occasions the Longhorns allowed unimpeded drives to the basket.
Fortunately for Texas, it had reserve Brock Cunningham. He scored 10 in the primary half — double his common per recreation — together with eight of Texas’ points in a row. Known as an vitality man for his hustle and bodily play, Cunningham has developed right into a harmful 3-point shooter and made two in a row in the primary half.
“Brock was just tremendous in that first half,” Terry stated. “He was playing winning basketball all over the floor.”
BIG PICTURE
Oklahoma: It’s been a tough season in the powerful Big 12, which occupied 5 of the primary 12 seeds in the NCAA Tournament choice committee’s bracket preview Saturday. The Sooners are in final place however have just a few massive moments: snapping a seven-game convention shedding streak on Wednesday by beating No. 12 Kansas State in Norman and defeating (now) No. 1 Alabama 93-69 on Jan. 28.
Texas: One subject for the Longhorns is an absence of measurement; solely two gamers are taller than 6-foot-7. Interior publish gamers Disu (6-9) and Christian Bishop (6-7) missed chunks of the sport. Both have been in foul hassle early, then Disu left the sport twice with accidents, however returned. Bishop and Groves have been known as for flagrant-1 fouls with 16:40 remaining — their third fouls of the sport — and Bishop picked up his fourth foul with 6:20 left.
SHARE OF FIRST
With No. 5 Kansas beating No. 9 Baylor on Saturday, the Longhorns and the Jayhawks are tied for first in the Big 12.
BEARD CHARGES DROPPED
Terry took over after Chris Beard was suspended on Dec. 12 and later fired after his arrest on a home violence cost. The third-degree felony cost was dismissed this week.
COMFORTABLE NEW DIGS
An enormous motive the Longhorns reached first place in the Big 12 is that they’ve been profitable in their new house enviornment, the ten,763-seat Moody Center. It’s been bought out for all 15 video games, together with the nonconference ones.
Texas is 14-1 at house, shedding solely to Kansas State; the Longhorns avenged that defeat by beating the Wildcats in Manhattan. Texas additionally beat Gonzaga and Creighton at Moody when these groups have been ranked in the top 10.
UP NEXT
(*24*)
Oklahoma: Hosts Texas Tech on Tuesday.
Texas: Hosts No. 19 Iowa State on Tuesday.
___
AP faculty basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25
publish credit score to Source link
