Stormin in Norman
Fansided

Oklahoma basketball: Sooners outlast South Alabama for 64-60 win

By Chip Rouse

Nov 18, 2022; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners forward Jacob Groves (34) and forward Tanner Groves (35) celebrate after Jacob blocked a shot by South Alabama during the second half at Lloyd Noble Center. Oklahoma won 64-60. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 18, 2022; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners forward Jacob Groves (34) and forward Tanner Groves (35) celebrate after Jacob blocked a shot by South Alabama during the second half at Lloyd Noble Center. Oklahoma won 64-60. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

Jacob Groves, part of the Oklahoma basketball Groves brother duo, may have single handedly saved the Sooners’ bacon on Friday night at Lloyd Nobel Center.

Jacob’s, younger brother of super-senior Tanner Groves, knocked down a clutch three-point shot that put Oklahoma in the lead 62-60 with just under three minutes to go and then delivered a potential game-saving shot block at the other end with 19 second left to finish off the victory.

The Sooners held on for a come from behind 64-60 victory over South Alabama to post their third win of the season against one loss. Oklahoma trailed by as many as 12 points in the opening half but closed to within three, 33-30, at the break.

The two teams went back and forth in the second half before South Alabama pulled ahead by four, 60-56, with 5:18 remaining in regulation. Grant Sherfield fired in a three-ball on the Sooners’ next possession to cut the Jaguars advantage to one point and setting up the follow-on three-pointer by Groves a little over a minute later.

Sherfield, who had a team-high 17 points in the game, added a pair of free throws to cap off the OU victory. Jacob’s brother, Tanner, contributed 15 points, 11 rebounds and six assists.

"“We did some good things,” said Sooner head coach Porter Moser after the game. “We will get better. The biggest message coming out of here is finding a way to win and making some winning plays.”"

The Sooners’ next outing will be away from the LNC as OU heads to Central Florida to play in the ESPN Events Invitational at State Farm Field House in Kissimmee. OU will open up with Nebraska on Thursday, followed by Memphis or Seton Hall on Friday.

Three takeaways from the Oklahoma win:

  • The Sooners were surprised by Sam Houston State in the season opener and they could have easily folded in this one. Instead, OU stayed tough, didn’t panic and made the big plays down the stretch to secure the win.
  • Oklahoma outrebounded South Alabama 39-23, including 10 offensive boards. The Sooners’ 10-2 advantage on the offensive glass led to 19 second-chance points, which proved huge in this contest. Tanner Groves pulled down a team=high 11 rebounds.
  • OU’s three-point shooting woes are becoming a concern. The Sooners were just 3 of 17 from behind the three-point on Friday. Moreover, Tanner Groves, who is normally fairly effective shooting the long ball, was 0 for 10 with the three-ball. No other Sooner made more than one attempt from three-point range. For the season, Oklahoma is shooting just 29 percent from long range (21 of 73). This must improve or the Sooners are in for a long season.
Home/OU Basketball