Oklahoma Coach Calls Out Sooners Performance vs. Texas Longhorns

Texas and Oklahoma faced each other on the hardwood in the SEC for the first time this week.

Both teams went into the matchup without a conference win and the Longhorns came onto the Sooners quite fast, leading by over 20 points at the half.

It seemed to be a sure win for Texas, but Oklahoma found its way back in the second half, ending the game with a 77-73 loss. For head coach Porter Moser, that wasn't enough.

"You know, for me, it starts with me. The first 25 minutes, I'm apologetic for the effort for the first 25 minutes," Moser told the media postgame. "It starts with me. I want everyone to know that I look at myself in the mirror. That first 25 minutes was unacceptable toughness and effort. That is -- that first 25 minutes was unacceptable competitiveness and there's no excuse - starting with me."

Oklahoma Sooners head coach Porter Moser gestures after a play against the Texas Longhorns during the second half at Lloyd Noble Center. | Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

Moser has been the head coach for the Sooners since 2021 after going on a Final Four run with Loyola in 2018. The Sooners have yet to make the NCAA Tournament since the start of his tenure.

"That's two games in a row that we had 18 turnovers," Moser said. "It's hard in this league. The margin of error if you're taking - I mean, how many fewer shots because you're turning over?"

Oklahoma was undefeated before the start of conference play but has since then lost to Alabama, Texas A&M, Georgia, and most recently Texas.

Texas' Jordan Pope had 27 points to help the Longhorns to their first conference victory despite the late Sooner surge in the game.

"I thought we had guys off the bench that came in with a toughness factor that became contagious," Moser said. "The last 15 minutes? I was so proud of how hard they worked and how they did compete. But that's what it's got to be...Why would we do it any other way?"

Texas and Oklahoma will play each other one more time this season for the final game of conference play in March, this time the Red River rivalry will take on the Moody Center in Austin.

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