OU basketball overcomes slow start, stays perfect

Think any OU basketball fan knew there would be a little bit of an emotional letdown after the Battle 4 Atlantis. The question was would OU wake up soon enough to look like the team that ran the table in the Bahamas?

Better late than never as No. 21-ranked OU did indeed to start to play to its potential in the second half. The Sooners got it going to earn a 76-61 victory over visiting Georgia Tech on Tuesday night at the Lloyd Noble Center.

OU trailed 34-30 at halftime before starting the second half on 21-7 run and take control. It did it with the three-pointer and Jeremiah Fears.

Fears had two quick fouls in the first half. Back in the flow to begin the second half, the offense simply looked different. You know, better.

“They always talk about that MTE hangover, and that’s usually when you take a week off,” Moser said. “We didn’t have time to hangover. We didn’t have enough time to have a hangover. I was going to say something I shouldn’t say in front of the media. We got back from the Bahamas late. Didn’t get back until late-Saturday. We were in there all day Sunday, the coaches. Then bring the players back for the game plan. Practice on Monday and play today.

“It was grueling in the Bahamas. It was a little bit, they weren’t going to feel sorry for themselves and use it as an excuse. Looking back on it, I don’t think we were very sharp in the first half. It got up to nine or 10 and we battled back and got it down to four to their credit. For 20 minutes, we’re just going to let it all out. Talked about our movement on offense and having to defend and rebound.”

Game No. 8 OU Takeaways

*Again, it doesn’t have to be every shooter every game. But you need a couple. And OU got it from Brycen Goodine and Kobe Elvis.

It was Elvis draining three 3-pointers in the first half. Goodine, during that 21-7 run to start the second, hit two of his own.

It helped OU to eventually make 10 from long distance. Elvis had 12 points and three steals. Goodine ended with 11 points.

*Fears, the reigning SEC Freshman of the Week, had two points and zero assists in the first half. That all changed in a hurry in the second half.

It began with the initial possessions, four points and an assist for a 3-pointer in a 9-0 run to begin things. He never slowed down.

Fears finished 18 points, three assists, five rebounds and two steals.

“I thought he came in, made a couple good plays,” Moser said. “Just staying involved. I thought he handled it way better than Louisville. So much growth. He was key. He had some big plays for us. Had a really nice midrange pull up that he hit. He had one where, I think it was around the four-minute mark, where they were up pressuring him. Next thing you know, we’ve been talking about it, don’t play with it if they’re up that far into you. He just drove by and he was at the rim in like two seconds. 

“I thought he did a lot of good things. He was trying to get other guys involved. Three assists, only two turnovers on that night. He had two steals. He had five rebounds. 18 points in 24 minutes. Great production. I thought he really grew from last time he was in foul trouble. I thought he did really well.”

*No doubt Jalon Moore was playing with a lot of emotion, going against his former team. It wasn’t one of his best outings, but he kept coming.

Moore was crucial in OU turning things around in the rebounding department. He battled his way to a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds.

It led to a long embrace between Moore and Moser in the final minute.

“That moment was between him and I, but you can only imagine,” Moser said. “He really wanted to play well. For him, more importantly, he really wanted to win.”

Up next

Time for the students. After a great student attendance against Georgia Tech, this one is for the students. Head coach Porter Moser will have the second McCasland Field House students-only game. This time against Alcorn State 7 p.m. Saturday. OU is vying for its second straight 9-0 start to the season.