Sooners Edge Longhorns in a Razor-Thin Victory at Lloyd Noble Center
The Oklahoma Sooners, ranked 20th, narrowly defeated the third-ranked Texas Longhorns with a final score of 71-70. The Sooners now hold a record of 1-0, while the Longhorns stand at 0-1.
The game was held at the Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, where fans witnessed an intense battle between two formidable opponents. The Sooners started off slow with only 10 points in the first quarter compared to the Longhorns' commanding 21 points. However, as the game progressed, Oklahoma showed resilience and determination. In an impressive second quarter turnaround, they racked up 28 points to Texas's 18.
Oklahoma's performance was marked by their ability to capitalize on turnovers and second-chance opportunities. They scored a total of 13 second chance points throughout the game and added another crucial 12 points off turnovers. Despite committing more turnovers (21) than their counterparts (14), they managed to maintain composure when it mattered most.
A key factor contributing to Oklahoma's success was their superior rebounding effort; they outrebounded Texas by a significant margin with a total of 47 rebounds compared to Texas’s modest count of 30. Of those rebounds for Oklahoma, an impressive number were on the offensive glass – securing them valuable additional possessions.
On offense, Oklahoma’s shooting from beyond the arc proved essential; they made ten three-point shots at a rate matching that of their opponents – both teams shot at thirty-three percent from long range. Free throws were also nearly identical in conversion rates: sixty-nine percent for Oklahoma against seventy-one percent for Texas.
Defensively speaking, although both teams displayed solid efforts with steals - seven for Oklahoma and eight for Texas - it was ultimately blocks where there was noticeable disparity; Texas had seven blocks over Oklahoma’s two.
Looking ahead after this nail-biting contest against one of their conference rivals, fans can anticipate another exciting matchup as the Sooners are scheduled to play away against Kansas Jayhawks at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence on March 2nd at four o'clock PM Central Time Zone. This upcoming game will be broadcasted on ESPN+, allowing fans everywhere access to what promises to be another captivating encounter.