OU Basketball: No. 8 Iowa State Overpowers Oklahoma in Physical Battle
Oklahoma hung around with one of the best teams in the country for one half on Wednesday night.
But after halftime, No. 8 Iowa State showed why no team has gotten the best of the Cyclones in Ames this year.
Enduring an incredibly physical battle, Iowa State eventually wore down Porter Moser’s Sooners, exacting revenge on the early-season loss to OU with a 58-45 victory of the Cyclones’ own at Hilton Coliseum.
Final Box Score
OU Stats
Both teams put on a defensive clinic, as each side shot just 33 percent from the floor, but Iowa State created enough extra opportunities to pull away.
The Cyclones won the offensive rebounding battle 15-7, converting those extra possessions into 14 second chance points.
Iowa State (22-6, 11-4 Big 12) also forced 14 OU (19-9, 7-8) turnovers, which were banked for another 13 points.
It took most of the first half for the hosts to get into rhythm, however.
Still playing without crucial bench big man John Hugley IV, the Sooners got solid minutes from redshirt freshman Luke Northweather to help build a 20-16 advantage with six minutes until halftime.
Then the mental errors started to mount.
Milos Uzan’s jumper to put OU up by four would be the Sooners’ final points of the first half.
Oklahoma consistently picked up its dribble on the sideline, dribbling into double teams. Boosted by the poor decisions with the basketball, Iowa State’s defense ramped up the physicality.
The Cyclones forced four turnovers in the final six minutes of the half, jumpstarting a 9-0 run to take a 25-20 lead into the break.
Out of the locker room, Oklahoma appeared to wear down.
Each trip down the floor, the Sooners had to work deep into the shot clock to find a decent look, and no matter what spot on the floor OU launched the ball from, the shots wouldn’t’ fall.
Moser’s team combined to shoot 8-for-21 in the second half, a mark that couldn’t keep them in the game.
Smelling blood in the water, Iowa State ensured there would be no comeback on the other end of the floor.
Cyclone guard Demarion Watson exploded for 15 points over the final 20 minutes of the contest, which matched his total scoring output for the night. Watson set a career-high in scoring with his second half effort.
Senior Rivaldo Soares paced the Sooners, scoring just nine points on the night while adding seven rebounds and two assists.
The road ahead doesn’t get any easier for Oklahoma.
Saturday, the Sooners will return home to face former coach Kelvin Sampson and his No. 1-ranked Houston Cougars.
Tip-off at the Lloyd Noble Center is scheduled for 7 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on ESPN2.
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