Stormin in Norman
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Oklahoma basketball: Sooners open 2021-22 season hosting Northwestern State

By Chip Rouse

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 22: Jalen Suggs #1 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs drives to the basket against Jalen Hill #1 and Austin Reaves #12 of the Oklahoma Sooners in the second round game of the 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Hinkle Fieldhouse on March 22, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 22: Jalen Suggs #1 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs drives to the basket against Jalen Hill #1 and Austin Reaves #12 of the Oklahoma Sooners in the second round game of the 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Hinkle Fieldhouse on March 22, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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The 2021 college basketball season opens across the country on Tuesday, and men’s Oklahoma basketball gets in the act hosting Northwestern (Oklahoma) State at 7 p.m. at Lloyd Noble Center.

The Sooners tuned up for the 2021-22 season opener with an impressive 106-57 exhibition victory last week over Rogers State. Oklahoma shot nearly 70 percent in that game with 18 made three-pointers.

This will be the seventh all-time meeting between Oklahoma and Northwestern State. The last time they played each other was in 2017, with the Sooners winning 105-68 behind a 26-point performance by Trae Young along with a record-setting 22 assists. Oklahoma has won all six previous games between the two schools.

Head coach Porter Moser added nine newcomers in revamping an Oklahoma roster depleted by transfers and the NBA Draft. Two of the newcomers are expected to be in the Sooner starting lineup against Northwestern State. Six-foot, 10-inch Tanner Groves, a transfer from Eastern Washington, and 6-foot, 3-inch guard Jordan Goldwire, who comes to OU from Duke, will join holdovers Elijah Harkless, Umoja Gibson and Jalen Hill as starters.

In the win over Rogers State Gibson and Jacob Groves, brother of Tanner, combined for a perfect 10 of 10 on three balls. Groves led all scorers in the game, scoring 20 points off the bench.

Oklahoma returns to action later this week, entertaining the University of Texas-San Antonio on Friday at Lloyd Noble Center. The Roadrunners are coached by former OU assistant Steve Henson. The Sooners are 6-0 all-time versus UTSA, including a 4-0 record in Norman.

The game scheduled last season between OU and UTSA was cancelled because of COVID-19 concerns. The Roadrunners finished the 2020-21 season with a 15-11 overall record.

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