Oklahoma basketball: Takeaways from a Sooner statement win at K-State

Kansas State’s Bramlage Coliseum has not been a friendly place for Oklahoma basketball over the years, but Saturday was a different story.

The Sooners captured their first win in the “Octagon of Doom” in 10 years and kept their March Madness hopes alive.

Oklahoma (17-14, 7-11) beat Kansas State (14-16, 6-12) Saturday afternoon. On this particular day, there was no such thing as starting out slow for OU, as the Sooners came out red-hot with three three-pointers in the first three minutes of action.

Umoja Gibson continued his elite play in this crucial ending stretch of games for the Sooners, scoring 29 points, with 20 of those coming in the first half. Gibson came out hitting two quick three-pointers right off the bat, setting the tone for the day for the Sooners.

Here are three takeaways telling the story of OU’s first win at Kansas State in 10 years:

Mo Gibson was Money for OU

For the Sooners to keep their postseason hopes alive at Kansas State, they needed senior sharpshooter Umoja Gibson to hit some big shots, and that he did. After being held scoreless in the first 15 minutes in the second half, after pouring in 20 in the opening 20 minutes, Gibson continued finally got back on track, ending the game with seven made three-pointers.

It was the third time this season Gibson has scored more than 20 points, and the Sooners have won all three of those games.

Gibson shot the ball 14 times, which was a great sign for OU, since most Big 12 teams have been keying in on Gibson.

"“I just took what they gave me toward the end… As the game went on, the ball found me, and I hit shots. I appreciate my teammates for finding me on those looks.” Gibson said in the postgame press conference."

For the Sooners to capture some “Sooner Magic” in the Big 12 Tournament, Gibson has to be anchor for this Sooners offense.

Sooners avoid the scoring droughts that have plagued them this season

In most of the close losses for Oklahoma this season, the Sooners would go on scoring droughts at crucial times, but they avoided that in Manhattan. And because of it, OU was able to hold off the Wildcats on Senior Day and pull off the upset. The Sooners were hitting on all cylinders, totaling 38 first-half points, the second most they have scored in the first half all season.

Every time Kansas State scored a bucket, OU would respond right back with one of its own. It’s something that has given Oklahoma problems this season, especially on the road, not being able to counter scoring punches against opponents. It was an all-around game for Oklahoma, which Porter Moser’s team desperately needed.

“I’m really happy for them. I’m happy for the locker room and those guys, who stayed fighting against adversity. We needed to win these three and we did,” the OU head coach said after the game.

Sooner Magic in the Big 12 Tournament

The path is simple: Win and you’re in.

The task? Taking down one of the best teams in the country.

With Kansas having the tiebreaker over Baylor, the No. 6-seeded Sooners will be matched up with No. 2 Baylor in the second round of the Big 12 Tournament.

Oklahoma played Baylor, who was the top-ranked team in the country at the time, in Waco and played a respectable game, taking tje Bears down to the wire. The Sooners ended up losing 74-84, but it was the second Big 12 game of the year.

Baylor had Oklahoma’s number in the next matchup in Norman, winning 65-51.

The Sooners will get punches from Baylor, they just need to punch back, just like at K-State