The honeymoon is about to end for the Oklahoma men, but not before the Sooners recorded a fourth straight double-digit win with an 84-56 victory over East Texas A&M at Lloyd Noble Center on Thursday.
Three newcomers to the Oklahoma roster this season accounted for 55 of the Sooners 84 points, including 20 points from true freshman Jeremiah Fears, who received his first career start against the Lions of East Texas A&M. Duke Miles, a transfer from High Point (North Carolina), contributed 19 points and St. Johns transfer Glenn Taylor Jr. added 16 off the bench.
Senior Jalon Moore, who exceeded 20 points in each of the Sooners first three games, had nine points against East Texas A&M.
Three of Oklahoma four wins to start the 2024-25 season have been by 20 or more points. The other was by 16. But these were all games against teams the Sooners were expected to beat fairly handily. Case in point: The cumulative record of the four teams OU has beaten is 5-17, and the Sooners average margin of victory has been 24 points (83.7 to 59.3).
Beginning next week, with the Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament in the Bahamas, the level of competition takes a big jump, and we will get a much better picture of how good this OU men's team can be this season. So far, they have looked very impressive, but against less-talented teams.
The Sooners shot 47.5 percent from the field for the game and 50 percent in scoring 46 points in the second half, when they outscored East Texas A&M 46-23.
The challenge will be much greater for the Sooners in the Bahamas tournament, where the participants include Gonzaga, Louisville, Indiana and Arizona. Oklahoma begins play in the Battle 4 Atlantis on Wednesday against Providence. Depending on the outcome of that game, the Sooners will face either Davidson or Arizona on Thursday.
Three takeaways from OU's win over East Texas A&M
- Ten different Oklahoma players scored at least two points in the game, including 28 off the bench.
- Oklahoma committed 10 turnovers against East Texas A&M but forced 15 defensive turnovers that led to 17 points.
- The Sooners outrebounded East Texas A&M 38-28, including nine offensive boards that led to 19 second-chance points.