Oklahoma Dominates Iowa, Notches Opening Round Tournament Win
On Thanksgiving Day, the Sooners feasted.
Oklahoma’s new-look lineup rejuvenated through the transfer portal took down the Iowa Hawkeyes 79-67 in the opening round of the Rady Children's Invitational in San Diego, California. The Sooners were in possession of a near 20-point lead the entire afternoon.
Every player that entered the game for the Sooners scored a point, and the offensive attack was spearheaded by Jalon Moore and Javian McCollum.
Moore’s high-flying highlights were impressive, totaling 18 points, five rebounds and two blocks. McCollum scored in a different manner, but patrolled the Sooners offense with 14 points and three assists.
Sam Godwin and John Hugley combined for a dominant front court performance, adding 19 points and nine rebounds. Otega Oweh's thunderous jams gave the Sooners energy on both ends, totaling 13 points, four rebounds and four steals.
Oklahoma’s first four games were impressive in general considering the point differential, but not a single game was competitive. The Sooners blew out lesser competition and developed much needed consistency and chemistry for a team full of talented transfers.
Thursday against Iowa, Porter Moser’s group got its first real test.
The Sooners started off with impressive two-way play, opening up the first half with a 20-10 run. Oklahoma spread the ball around in an impressive way, as all eight players that entered the game scored a bucket.
Oklahoma’s first half defense was stifling. Heading into the under-eight minute timeout, the Hawkeyes were shooting 7-of-23 and 0-of-7 from 3-point range.
The Sooners extended its first half lead late into the final minutes as Oweh continued to pressure the rim. After a short floater in the late and a breakaway layup from McCollum, Oklahoma extended the lead to 32-20.
Oklahoma closed out an impressive first half heading into the break with a 36-24 lead. And it could’ve been even worse for the Hawkeyes. The Sooners managed to score 36 points despite going 2-of-12 from 3-point range and struggling to find any rhythm outside of the paint.
But that has been the difference in this team so far. They continue to find a way, and there’s multiple paths to victory.
After halftime, the Sooners came out like a team possessed. The offense was flowing and the team was getting out in transition — which seems to be its identity.
With 17:24 left in the second frame, Moore drove to the rim and threw down a vicious left-handed dunk for the and-one. It was perhaps Oklahoma’s most electric play of the season, and certainly worth of a SportsCenter Top 10 nomination.
Oklahoma’s 12-6 run out of halftime extended the lead to 48-30 with 15:41 left in the ball game.
Iowa responded with a mini-run in the second half, cutting the lead to 50-37 with 11:56 left. The Hawkeyes hit its first 3-point attempt of the entire game. Oweh answered with a strong drive to the hoop to push the margin back to 15 points.
Every punch the Hawkeyes threw, the Sooners had an answer for it.
Down the stretch, Oklahoma maintained a steady 15-point difference on the scoreboard and Iowa could never quite pull within striking distance. The Hawkeyes scored on the last few possessions of the game, but Oklahoma dominated. The game was never once in danger.
With the win, Oklahoma advances to the Rady Children's Invitational on Friday afternoon at 2:35 p.m. The Sooners will square off against the winner of USC-Seton Hall.
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