Stormin in Norman
Fansided

Oklahoma basketball: Sooners lay early haymaker on Central Arkansas

By Chip Rouse

Oklahoma forward Jacob Groves (34) works toward the hoop in the second half during a college basketball game between the Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Kansas City Kangaroos at Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Okla., Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022.Ou Vs Kansas City
Oklahoma forward Jacob Groves (34) works toward the hoop in the second half during a college basketball game between the Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Kansas City Kangaroos at Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Okla., Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022.Ou Vs Kansas City /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Groves brothers combined for 40 points and the men’s Oklahoma basketball team built up a 28-point advantage in the opening half as the Sooners rolled to an 87-66 home win over Central Arkansas on Saturday.

Jacob Groves had an Oklahoma career-high 26 points along with three assists and three steals to lead the Sooner offense. His older brother, Tanner, contributed 14 points and seven rebounds. Sooner point guard Grant Sherfield recorded 17 points, his 11th straight game in double figures.

Nineteen of Jacob’s points came in the opening 20 minutes. He hit 10 of 13 shots, including 4 of 6 from three-point range.

The Big 12 leaders in field-goal percentage shot season-best 63.6 for the game, including 50 percent (9 of 18) from behind the three-point line. OU has exceeded 50-percent shooting in six of their last seven games.

Sophomore Camren Hunter led Central Arkansas with 18 points, but he also committed seven turnovers.

The Sooners led by as many 29 points with 2:15 to go in the first half. Central Arkansas never got closer than 13 points in the second half.

Oklahoma plays its final nonconference game before beginning Big 12 play when the Sooners meet up with Florida on Tuesday in the inaugural Jumpman Classic in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Three points that help tell the story of the OU-Central Arkansas game:

  • Oklahoma played a relatively clean game, committing just five personal fouls and 10 turnovers.
  • The Sooners scored 48 of their 88 points in the paint, 21 points on Central Arkansas turnovers and the OU reserves contributed 26 points.
  • Jacob and Tanner Groves and Grant Sherfield were a combined 22 of 32 (68.7 percent) in field-goal tries vs. Central Arkansas.
Home/OU Basketball