Stormin in Norman
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Oklahoma basketball: Takeaways from a Sooner Cornhusking

By Chip Rouse

Nov 24, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Oklahoma Sooners forward Jalen Hill (1) dunks the ball against the Nebraska Cornhuskers during the first half at State Farm Field House. Mandatory Credit: Rich Storry-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 24, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Oklahoma Sooners forward Jalen Hill (1) dunks the ball against the Nebraska Cornhuskers during the first half at State Farm Field House. Mandatory Credit: Rich Storry-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Groves brothers combined for 33 points and the men’s Oklahoma basketball team shot 51 percent as OU defeated former Big 12 foe Nebraska 69-56 on Thanksgiving day.

The Sooners advance to play Seton Hall on Friday in the second round of the ESPN Events Invitational in Kissimmee, Florida. The Hall (4-1) defeated Memphis to move on to a date with OU.

Tanner Groves led the Sooners with a season-high 17 points and brother Jacob contributed 16. The Groves brothers were also five of seven from three-point range (Tanner 3 for 3 and Jacob 2for 4). A dozen of Jacob’s 16 points came in the first half.

Nebraska led in the early going. Oklahoma took its first lead at the 15:04 mark in the opening half and never trailed after that. The Sooners led 41-34 at the half and led by double digits most of the second half.

The win was OU’s fourth straight after a season-opening52-51 loss to Sam Houston State. Jalen Hill added 13 points for the Sooners and Nevada transfer Grant Sherfield had 12 points and eight assists.

Juwan Gary led Nebraska with 16 points and Emmanuel Bandoumel chipped in with 13.

This is the first time the Sooners and Cornhuskers have met on the hardwood since the 2010-11 season. Oklahoma leads the all-time series 105-83.

Three main takeaways that help tell the story of the game:

  • The Sooners’ 50.9 shooting percentage (29 of 57) was their second best of the season.
  • Oklahoma made 9 of 20 three-point attempts. The 45.0 three-ball percentage was their best of the season and only the second time in five games they have shot better than 30 percent from long range.
  • OU had not done well with ball security through the first four games. The Sooners had averaged 14 turnovers per game with a high of 21 against Sam Houston in the season opener. Against Nebraska, however, they committed a season-low seven turnovers.
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