Can the Sooners Maintain Their Momentum After Dominating the Mountaineers at Lloyd Noble Center?
The Oklahoma Sooners, ranked 15th, delivered a commanding performance against the unranked West Virginia Mountaineers with a final score of 77-63. The Sooners improved their record to an impressive tally while the Mountaineers' record took another hit. The game unfolded at the Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, where 6,835 fans witnessed a showcase of tactical execution and skill.
The first half set the tone for what was to come as Oklahoma led with 29 points against West Virginia's 25. As play resumed after halftime, it was clear that the home team had found its rhythm, adding an overwhelming 48 points to their score in comparison to West Virginia's effort of adding only 38 points. The Sooners' offensive strategy paid off handsomely as they outperformed their opponents in field goal percentage by converting on 49 percent of attempts from the field compared to West Virginia's respectable but lower rate of 46 percent.
Oklahoma's dominance was not limited to shooting alone; they also excelled under pressure making good on 73 percent from the free-throw line while West Virginia managed a slightly less effective rate at around 70 percent. In terms of rebounds, Oklahoma showed superior control by securing a total of 33 rebounds throughout the game which included both defensive and offensive boards.
Defensively speaking, Oklahoma made life difficult for their counterparts with relentless pressure resulting in eleven steals and effectively shutting down any fast break opportunities that West Virginia hoped for by limiting them to just two fast break points. This defensive prowess translated into offense as well with Oklahoma scoring thirteen fast break points themselves.
West Virginia did show resilience despite being outplayed; they managed nine steals and ten assists but were hindered by committing nineteen personal fouls which contributed significantly towards their loss. They also struggled on turnovers with sixteen instances compared to Oklahoma’s nineteen turnovers which is one aspect where both teams showed room for improvement.
Looking ahead, fans can mark their calendars for an exciting matchup as the Oklahoma Sooners are scheduled next to face off against Cincinnati Bearcats at Fifth Third Arena located in Cincinnati on January 20th at noon Central Time (1:00 PM Eastern Time). This upcoming contest will be available for viewing on ESPN+, ensuring fans won't miss any action from this anticipated encounter.