Sooners Cruise Past Mountaineers

Matchup
FG	26-62	29-49
Field Goal %	41.9	59.2
3PT	11-28	10-21
Three Point %	39.3	47.6
FT	17-25	24-29
Free Throw %	68.0	82.8
Rebounds	35	27
Offensive Rebounds	15	2
Defensive Rebounds	20	25
Team Rebounds	0	0
Assists	11	16
Steals	10	7
Blocks	0	3
Total Turnovers	17	16
Fouls	23	18
Technical Fouls	0	0
Flagrant Fouls	0	0

The West Virginia Mountaineers (11-18, 3-13) inexperience showed in a 92-80 loss to the Oklahoma Sooners (18-11, 5-10).

West Virginia came out executing their offense, making six of their first eight and went 3-3 from the foul line to build a 17-9 lead.

The Mountaineers squandered several opportunities to build on their eight-point advantage with sloppy turnovers and poor shot selection. WVU couldn’t handle the Sooners pressure and finished the half shooting 19% (4-21) from the field and 2-11 from the behind the arc.

“They made shots and we turned it over, basically” Stated West Virginia head coach Bob Huggins after the game. “They did a great job of making open shots today. We gave them enough open shots to lose three or four times.”

“I think youth to a large degree.” Huggins explained on West Virginia struggling after improvement the last game.

“Oklahoma is a good team and their extremely well coached.” continued Huggs, “And, they have a bunch of upperclassmen. Their playing one freshman. We’re playing four. The only veteran guy we’re really playing is Lamont West. So, we’re playing a whole bunch of new guys.”

Oklahoma shot 58.3% (14-24) and 60% (6-10) from three manufacturing a 42-28 halftime lead. A large part of the Sooners success was due to West Virginia’s lack of defense giving up open threes and easy baskets around the rim.

West Virginia was executing their offense in the second half; however, they continuously got beat down the floor, not getting back on defense. and trailed by 24, midway through the second half. “That’s inexcusable on our part.” Said Huggs.

The Mountaineers chipped away and cut it to nine with 2:32 left in the game. Nonetheless, the Sooners finished the game going 8-8 from the free throw line, during that span, and taking the 12-point win.

The effort versus Oklahoma was there, but the hangover from the triple overtime win over TCU on Tuesday night was evident Saturday afternoon. The mental mistakes leading to turnovers in the first half was the difference. It came from not adjusting to the Sooners defense early in the first half and taking ill-advised shots.

The Mountaineers have their season home finale versus Iowa State Wednesday night at 7:00 pm est