Stormin in Norman
Fansided

Oklahoma basketball: Sooners stall out late, lose by 4 to Villanova

By Chip Rouse

Dec 3, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Villanova Wildcats guard Caleb Daniels (14) shoots a three point jump shot against Oklahoma Sooners forward Jacob Groves (34) during the second half at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 3, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Villanova Wildcats guard Caleb Daniels (14) shoots a three point jump shot against Oklahoma Sooners forward Jacob Groves (34) during the second half at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Riding the momentum of a six-game winning streak, Oklahoma men’s basketball started out strong on Saturday but was unable to overcome a pair of costly scoring droughts in falling 70–66 to Villanova as part of the Big 12/Big East Challenge.

The Sooners, now 6-2 on the season, made 8 of their first 11 shots and raced out to a 20-9 advantage seven minutes into the game played at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. As hot as they had started out, though, the Sooners went ice cold over the next eight minutes, letting Villanova back in the game, and it remained fairly close the rest of the first half.

Villanova finished out the half on an 8-2 run to close within two points, 32-30, at the intermission. The Sooners held on to a two-point advantage until Caleb Daniels hit a three-point shot at the 13:59 mark of the second half to give Villanova its first lead in the game, 45-44.

Oklahoma regained the lead, 52-51 and stretched it to 59-53. with 6:41 to go on a trey-ball by Grant Sherfield. That’s when the Sooners’ second scoring drought occurred.

Villanova’s Brandon Slater drove to the bucket for a 62-61 Wildcat lead, and after an OU turnover, Daniels followed with a layup widening the Villanova advantage to 64-61.

The Sooners closed to within one at 64-63, but Jalen Hill missed the back half of a one-and-one free throw and Oklahoma was unable to draw any closer.

Sherfield led the Sooners with 21 points, including six of eight from behind the three-point line. Tanner Groves and Jacob Groves chipped in with 14 points each.

Oklahoma led for over 30 minutes in the game. There were seven lead changes.

Daniels, one of three Wildcat players to reach double figures, led all scorers in the game with 22 points.

This game marked the season debut of Villanova’s top freshman recruit Cam Whitmore, who had surgery for a broken right thumb suffered during an October practice. Whitmore finished with seven points in 20 minutes of action.

Villanova snapped a four-game losing streak, improving to 3-5 this season.

Oklahoma returns to Lloyd Noble Center for a game on Tuesday against the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

A three-pointer plus one that helps tell the story of the game:

  • For the second straight game, Oklahoma won the battle of the boards, outrebounding Villanova 31-19, including 12 offensive rebounds.
  • Villanova scored 13 points off of 13 Oklahoma turnovers.
  • Villanova scored 32 of its 70 points in close at the basket.
  • The Sooners shot 43.5 percent from three-point range (10 of 23).
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