Sooners Stumble at Addition Financial Arena; Knights Secure Victory in Conference Game
The Oklahoma Sooners, ranked 23rd, faced a challenging contest against the unranked Knights at the Addition Financial Arena. The Sooners' record now stands at 63-74 after a hard-fought game that saw them unable to overcome their opponents. The Knights improved their standing with a decisive home victory.
From the onset, the Oklahoma Sooners struggled to find their rhythm on offense. Despite converting 18 of their 22 free throw attempts, showcasing an impressive 82 percent accuracy from the line, they were hindered by a lower field goal percentage of just 37 percent. Their efforts from beyond the arc were also met with limited success as they made only five out of sixteen three-point attempts, culminating in a modest three-point shooting percentage of 31 percent.
The defensive end did not fare much better for the Sooners as they managed only two blocks and five steals throughout the game. Personal fouls proved costly for them as well; committing twenty fouls led to one player being fouled out. Rebounding was one area where both teams showed parity, each grabbing thirty-three boards over the course of play.
On offense, points in paint were notable for Oklahoma with twenty-eight points scored inside but this was closely matched by UCF's twenty-six points in similar fashion. Second-chance opportunities were scarce for Oklahoma as they could only muster four second-chance points compared to nine by UCF.
The Knights capitalized on turnovers scoring sixteen points off turnovers while Oklahoma managed eleven points from this avenue. Furthermore, UCF's fast break execution was superior with seventeen fast break points dwarfing Oklahoma's nine.
UCF's defense shone brightly with nine blocks and twelve steals contributing significantly to their win margin. Their shooting efficiency eclipsed that of Oklahoma’s; hitting fifty percent from two-point range and forty-two percent overall field goal percentage demonstrated more effective shot selection and execution.
Looking ahead after this setback on Florida soil, fans can anticipate seeing how The Oklahoma Sooners will regroup when they host BYU Cougars at Lloyd Noble Center in Norman on February 6th at 7:00 PM Central Time (CT). This upcoming game will be available for viewing via ESPN+ internet broadcast network.