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Oklahoma basketball: Three takeaways from a confidence-building win

By Chip Rouse

Dec 11, 2021; Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks guard Au'Diese Toney (5) tries to shoot over Oklahoma Sooners forward Tanner Groves (35) and forward Jalen Hill (1) during the second half at BOK Center. Oklahoma won 88-66. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 11, 2021; Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks guard Au'Diese Toney (5) tries to shoot over Oklahoma Sooners forward Tanner Groves (35) and forward Jalen Hill (1) during the second half at BOK Center. Oklahoma won 88-66. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports /
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The biggest win of the still early Oklahoma basketball season was recorded on Saturday, sending the signal that this new-look Sooner squad is going to be one to be reckoned with when Big 12 play starts in a couple of weeks.

The Sooners never trailed in a dominant 88-66 win over 12th-ranked and formerly unbeaten Arkansas.

Unlike in the two games they have lost this season, the Sooners did not allow a second-half lead to slip away. When Arkansas closed to within three points of Oklahoma with just under 10 minutes to go in the second half, the Sooners exploded on a 31-12 run to finish out the game.

It was OU’s second win in 10 days over a team ranked in the top 25 and improved the Sooners’ record to 8-2 with two more nonconference games to go in December before opening the Big 12 season on New Year’s Day  at home against Kansas State.

Here are three big takeaways from Oklahoma’s win over Arkansas:

Sooners dominate the opening minutes of both halves

Oklahoma opened up the game with 13 unanswered points, which they later opened to a 15-point advantage during the first half. Arkansas closed out the opening half on a 13-4 run to close within three points at 39-33 at the intermission. The Sooners opened the second half on an 11-2 run to stretch the advantage back to 15 points.

Three points is always better than two

Through the first nine games this season, Oklahoma had shot just 32.4 percent from three-point range (79 of 244). On Saturday, however, the Sooners were on fire from deep, draining 13 of 22 three-balls. The Sooners shot 59.1 percent and scored 39 of their 88 points from behind the three-point line, nearly doubling their season average. OU’s previous single-game highs were 11 made three-pointers and 43-percent shooting from three-point range.

Creating offense from strong defense

The Sooners won this game as much from their defense as from a sterling offensive performance. Yes, Oklahoma shot 55 percent as a team and all five starters scored in double figures, but on the defensive end, the Sooners limited the Razorbacks’ two leading scorers each to six points below their season average.

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