OU Basketball: Kansas Pummels Oklahoma as Sooners Drop Seventh Straight Big 12 Contest
NORMAN — A strong start proved to be a mid-February mirage, as Oklahoma couldn’t hang with Kansas on Saturday.
The No. 9-ranked Jayhawks dominated the final 30 minutes of the conference matchup, blowing the Sooners out 78-55 inside a Kansas-friendly Lloyd Noble Center.
Back under .500 on the season for the first time since opening night, Oklahoma (12-13 overall, 2-10 Big 12) continued to stagger aimlessly through Big 12 play, dropping its seventh straight league game.
The only real bright spot over the last month for the Sooners was the historic win over then-No. 2 Alabama on Jan. 28, which looked even more miraculous on Saturday after the Jayhawks (20-5, 8-4) handled OU.
Porter Moser’s team was encouraging from the opening tip, racing out to an 8-2 lead.
But the Sooners’ ball security issues reared their ugly head as Kansas settled in.
The Jayhawks forced 13 first half turnovers, matching OU’s season average of mistakes per game, allowing Bill Self’s squad to get out and run.
“I thought we came out playing the right way,” Moser said after the game. “We jumped out to a lead. I thought our defense was really good in the beginning. The storyline of the game is the decision making and the barrage of turnovers. Twenty-four turnovers and five assists. Say no more.”
Jalen Wilson led the charge for the visitors, helping Kansas take command of the game by closing the half on a 16-2 run to take a 13-point lead into the break.
“I really feel that our offense dictated our defense in that run,” Moser said. “I thought we regrouped at halftime, came out and tried to punch back. We made them call a timeout and cut that thing right back down. And then the turnovers started again.
“And then the turnovers turned into our guys just standing around. When the guys weren't kicking it, that was contagious. When they're not kicking it and the ball is not moving, we go to the rim and they just stood around.”
A pair of 3-point baskets by Grant Sherfield and Otega Oweh helped the Sooners cut the lead to five points directly out of halftime, but OU was unable to sustain the scoring flurry.
Again, Kansas stabilized, marching on another 13-2 run to push the lead close to 20 points, coasting across the finish line and throwing down multiple alley-oops to again bring the numerous Jayhawk fans to their feet.
The pair of massive runs were made easier by the Sooners letting the Jayhawks get out in transition, which Kansas converted into easy points.
“I just think we're trying to force things. ,” OU forward Tanner Groves said. “We're getting to the paint and the play is not there and we're trying to force something and making a bad play and then we're just not getting back on defense after that.
“And, at the end of the day, we just got to take care of the ball and find ways to make plays for one another.”
As a team, the Sooners’ shooting wasn’t good enough to overcome the turnovers.
Oklahoma connected on just 36 percent of its field goals, ending the game with 24 turnovers.
“I think it’s a lack of fundamentals, playing off two feet,” Moser said of the mistakes. “I think it’s trying to do too much. When you go in there — but you’ve got to understand when you draw two or three you’ve got to kick it. And we just didn’t.”
On the other end, the Jayhawks shot 55 percent, also dominating the points in the paint 50-28.
Jalen Hill finished as OU’s leading scorer with 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting, adding five rebounds. Sherfield was one of two other Oklahoma players to reach 10 points, albeit on an inefficient 4-of-14 effort.
Oweh also finished with 11 points after adding a few buckets in garbage time.
Four different Jayhawks added double-digit scoring outputs, led by Wilson’s 18 points.
The Sooners will return to action on Tuesday, when OU hosts Kansas State.
Tip-off at the Lloyd Noble Center is slated for 8 p.m., and the game will either be broadcast on ESPN or ESPN2.
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