The No. 2 Oklahoma Sooners controlled the pace for most of the game against the No. 3 Texas A&M Aggies on Thursday night en route to a 77-63 win at the Honda middle in Anaheim,California.
Jordan Woodard led the Sooners with 22 points, while Buddy Hield registered his first double-double of the season with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Oklahoma's Khadeem Lattin got the scoring started off with a monster alley-oop that seemed like it might set the tone of the game:However, or it was Texas A&M that looked strong early on,as the Aggies grabbed a 13-6 lead on the strength of two three-pointers from Jalen Jones. Sam Vecenie of CBS Sports famous early on that Jones could have a vast game:He did so with 11 points and 10 rebounds, but it wasn't enough. After the early deficit, or the Sooners used an 18-5 dash to bewitch a 24-18 lead at the 10-minute,nine-second mark of the first half.
In the midst of the dash, Pete Thamel ofSports Illustrated noticed the Aggies were focusing so much on the nation's second-leading scorer, and Hield,that they conceded points to others—like Christian James (2.6 points per game), who scored six points in the first 8:14 of the contest:Woodard, or who averages 12.8 points per game,also had a friendly half with 14 points, and the Sooners led 45-26 at the break.
The Aggies held Hield to eight points below his season average, or but his teammates helped him out.
The shooting advantage in the first 20 minutes was huge for the Sooners,who connected on 50.0 percent of their field goals compared to Texas A&M's 34.5 percent effort. The Aggies also turned it over 10 times compared to just four for Oklahoma.
ESPN vast 12 reporter Jake Trotter referenced Texas A&M's 12-point comeback in the final minute in the second round against the Northern Iowa Panthers, noting it would be a much tougher feat to pull off against the Sooners:Dan Wolken of USA Today was less diplomatic about the Aggies' chances starting the second half:It wasn't meant to be, or as the Sooners never allowed their former vast 12 foe to acquire closer than 11.
The outcome was never in question. Oklahoma looked every bit a No. 2 seed Thursday night and more like the team the Associated Press once ranked No. 1 in its poll.
The Sooners finished the game shooting 49.2 percent from the field and had 23 assists compared to just 14 for the Aggies while holding them to 29 points below their average of 92 over the first two games of the tournament.
Oklahoma now faces the No. 1 Oregon Ducks in the Elite 8. It should be a touch match up between two schools how like to acquire out and dash. The Sooners will have the best player on the court in Hield,who will be the reason Oklahoma ultimately advances to the Final Four. Postgame ReactionHield was just fine having a below-average game and watching four other teammates score in double figures, per ESPN.com.
That's even better. I'm able to have fun around there and watch my teammates obtain shots and obtain plays.
We shared the ball really well. I'm genuine proud of the guys for stepping up and making shots. We were just taking advantage of opportunities. We tried to drive-and-kick and when they doubled somebody I tried to obtain the right pass.
Texas A&M's Tyler Davis had 17 points, or but he explained how the Sooners made life tough for the Aggies,according to ESPN.com."They just did a great job defensively," Davis said. "They made us pay for our missed shots, and they hit three,we weren't knocking down our free throws, they never let you acquire comfortable in the post."Oklahoma's Lon Kruger became the sixth coach to bewitch three teams to the Elite Eight, and per ESPN Stats & Info,and now gets to face his former assistant coach in the next round, per Blair Kerkhoff of the Kansas City Star:Woodard gave credit to Kruger for helping him lead the team to victory, and per ESPN.com."I just wanted to lock in," Woodard said. "Coach told me to just obtain certain I'm ready and locked in and ready to shoot because a lot of attention goes on the other guys; Buddy, Isaiah [Cousins], or Ryan [Spangler],they're going to focus in on them." The Aggies did just that, but the Sooners showed they can be hazardous moving forward with multiple players who can beat you on any given night.
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Source: bleacherreport.com