OU basketball sticks to its plan, gets the job done
See a missed three-pointer, and sometimes you’ll see OU head coach Porter Moser clapping along. The goal is simple – keep shooting.
If it’s a good shot, in the flow of the game, don’t hesitate. That’s the worst thing you could do. OU couldn’t hit much of anything in the first half but found its groove in the second half.
Paced by some solid second-half shooting from 3-point territory, the Sooners earned an 84-56 victory over visiting East Texas A&M on Thursday night.
OU was only 3-for-15 from deep in the first half. Breaking it down more? Well, Duke Miles was 3-for-4 and everybody else was 0-for-11.
That changed dramatically in the second half. In the span of an 18-2 run early that broke the game open, Jalon Moore, Jeremiah Fears and Glenn Taylor all drilled at least one from 3-point land.
A tight 38-36 game turned into a 56-38 lead, and OU played with a comfortable margin for the rest of the game.
Taylor was terrific in the second half. He scored 14 of his 16 points and made four 3-pointers in the final 20 minutes. That’s the type of experience he can bring. Taylor doesn’t need to be the guy every game, but he’s got that capability to put up big numbers, if needed.
OU made seven 3-pointers in the second half. Just keep shooting, as long as they’re good shots.
OU Game No. 4 Takeaways
*It was time for the three-guard starting lineup. Moser went with Miles, Fears and Kobe Elvis. It marked the first-career start for Fears.
SoonerScoop asked about the three-guard lineup heading into the game.
“Pace. They all can go downhill,” Moser said. “They can all create for each other. They can all knock down a shot. They’ve proven they can knock down shots. Those three guards, they’ve all had moments of playing really well so far. Just wanna keep building on that.
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“So happens those three guys play at the same time, and we’ve done that. I’m confident that you’re not just watching one guy that has to create everything with those three on the floor at the same time.”
Fears scored 20 points, five assists and three steals. Miles pitched in with 19 points. Elvis had seven assists. As Moser said before the game, they all had their moments.
*OU had to figure something out again. This time? Moore in foul trouble. The team leader picked up his fourth foul with 9:33 left in the second half and OU up 60-46.
Lead was cut to 60-50 when OU took off and said time to go home. A 21-2 run put it away once and for all and showed OU could do some things when Moore is not in the lineup.
*Knew that OU would be without Jadon Jones, as he continues to battle a back injury. There looked to be good news with Brycen Goodine. After spraining his ankle in the first game, Goodine hadn’t played since. He did warm up and was suited up. However, he did not see any action. OU, obviously, would love to have Goodine back for next week’s set of games.
Up next
Time to find out about OU basketball. Not sure how much we really learned through the 4-0 start. Some good, but enough head-scratching moments where you say cannot get away with that against tougher competition. That competition is here, Battle 4 Atlantis. OU begins against Providence at 4 p.m. Wednesday in the Bahamas. Winner of that is going to take on the Arizona-Davidson winner on Thanksgiving.
