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Oklahoma Basketball: Sooners’ Get Second-Half Shock Treatment

By Chip Rouse

Dec 3, 2016; Madison, WI, USA; Oklahoma Sooners guard Jordan Woodard (10) looks to pass as Wisconsin Badgers guard Zak Showalter (3) defends during the first half at Kohl Center. Mandatory Credit: Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 3, 2016; Madison, WI, USA; Oklahoma Sooners guard Jordan Woodard (10) looks to pass as Wisconsin Badgers guard Zak Showalter (3) defends during the first half at Kohl Center. Mandatory Credit: Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports /
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At times it seemed like there were more Wichita State fans present in Oklahoma City than there were Oklahoma basketball fans, and the support seemed to spur on the visitors.

Jan 14, 2015; Wichita, KS, USA; Wichita State Shockers Forward Zack Brown (1) takes practice shots at Charles Koch Arena. Final score – Wichita State 67 – Souther Illinois 55 – Mandatory Credit: Gary Rohman-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 14, 2015; Wichita, KS, USA; Wichita State Shockers Forward Zack Brown (1) takes practice shots at Charles Koch Arena. Final score – Wichita State 67 – Souther Illinois 55 – Mandatory Credit: Gary Rohman-USA TODAY Sports /

Despite a 28-point performance by senior Jordan Woodard, Oklahoma couldn’t overcome a second-half burst by Wichita State and lost for the third time this season and second time in a week.

The Sooners shot a miserable 30.8 percent from the field, but still managed to make it close at the very end before falling 76-73 to the Shockers on Saturday afternoon in the All-College Classic at Chesapeake Arena in Oklahoma City.

The Sooners had an eight-point lead, 39-31 with a little over a minute remaining in the opening half, but led by just two at halftime as the Shockers produced the final six points of the half.

Oklahoma stretched the lead to three points early in the second half, but that’s when Wichita State made its move. Back-to-back made three-pointers by reserve Zach Brown early in the second stanza sparked a 20-8 run that shocked the Sooners in another second-half struggle and put Wichita State up by nine, 59-50 with just over seven minutes to go.

Woodard made a pair of three-balls with under 30 seconds left in the game to bring Oklahoma to within a point of the Shockers, at 74-73, but it was Brown again with the final dagger, sinking two free throws with under a second to go to give Wichita State the victory and its ninth win in the young season.

The Sooners weren’t able to capitalize on 34 trips to the foul line. They made good on 27 of those 34 attempts, but it wasn’t enough to counter their worst shooting performance from the field this season. OU also was cold from the three-point line, connecting on just 6 of 21 three balls for a disappointing 29 percent.

The Oklahoma bench, which has played a big part in the Sooners’ six victories this season was a nonfactor against the Shockers. The Wichita State reserves, on the other hand, contributed 40 points in the game, outscoring the Sooner bench players 40-13.

Brown had 17 points off the bench for the Shockers and led the team in the scoring column. Daishon Smith contributed 13, including an emphatic slam dunk midway through the second half that definitely got the attention of the crowd.

One bright spot in the game for Oklahoma was in the turnover category. The Sooners committed just 10 turnovers, the lowest total of the season.

Christian James contributed 15 points for the Sooners before fouling out with under a minute to go. Rashard Odomes added 10 points.

The Sooners don’t play for another week when they host Memphis next Saturday at Lloyd Noble Center.

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