Stormin in Norman
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Oklahoma basketball: Notable numbers from a 2nd straight loss

By Chip Rouse

COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA - MARCH 24: Head coach Lon Kruger of the Oklahoma Sooners looks on against the Virginia Cavaliers during the first half in the second round game of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Colonial Life Arena on March 24, 2019 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA - MARCH 24: Head coach Lon Kruger of the Oklahoma Sooners looks on against the Virginia Cavaliers during the first half in the second round game of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Colonial Life Arena on March 24, 2019 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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A total of 41 fouls were called in the Oklahoma basketball loss at Creighton on Tuesday, resulting in 36 free-thow attempts by the team on the winning end of the scoreboard.

The Sooners (7-3) fell for the second time in less than a week, losing to Creighton 83-73 on Tuesday night.

In simple terms, two primary factors led to OU’s downfall against Creighton:

  • Oklahoma was whistled for 22 personal fouls in the game, leading to 36 free throws and 29 points, or 35 percent of Creighton’s 83-point total.
  • After shooting 43 percent from the field in the first half on Tuesday night, the Sooners couldn’t hit the side of a barn in the second half, shooting just 23.5 percent, on 8 of 34 field-goal attempts. At the same time, Creighton went over nine minutes in the second half without a field goal, and Oklahoma was not able to capitalize.

That, in a fast break and an emphatic slam down, is what happened to the Sooners in their final road game before the beginning of conference play in early January. I say final, for the simple reason that OU atypically has played seven of its 10 games this season away from home.

Here are a few more notable numbers that help tell the sad story of Oklahoma’s loss to Creighton:

4 — Four Creighton players scored in double figures, led by team scoring leader Marcus Zegarowski with 20.

3 — Oklahoma’s largest lead in the game, in the opening seconds of the first half.

8 — Turnovers in the game by the Sooners. This is the third straight game in which Oklahoma has committed fewer than 10 turnovers.

8 of 32 — OU’s three-point field-goal stats for the game (25 percent).

9 — Oklahoma got only nine points off the bench, all by one player, freshman Alondes Williams.

9:08 — The span of time (in minutes and seconds) that Creighton went without a field goal in the second half against the Sooners. During that time, the Blue Jays outscored Oklahoma 16 to 15, all from free throws.

16 — Austin Reaves was the high scorer in the game for the Sooners with 16 points. No other Oklahoma player reached double digits.

29-36 — Free throws made and attempted by Creighton in the game.

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