Field Level Media
Jan 12, 2021
De'Vion Harmon scored 22 points as Oklahoma snapped a two-game losing streak Tuesday night with an 82-46 home blowout of TCU on Tuesday night.
Harmon set a career high with three 3-pointers as the Sooners built a double-digit lead late in the first half and turned the game into a blowout quickly in the second half with steady defense and strong finishing on the other end.
After a Saturday loss to Kansas, Sooners coach Lon Kruger said he was encouraged by his team's defensive activity.
It was the first time since Dec. 19 -- a span of four games - in which OU was facing a team not ranked in the top 15, and the Sooners rewarded Kruger's confidence from the early going.
They scored 25 points off the Horned Frogs' 16 turnovers and tied a season low with just five turnovers of their own.
Oklahoma (7-4, 3-3 Big 12) was playing without starter Brady Manek, its second leading scorer, and reserve forward Jalen Hill for the second consecutive game due to COVID-19 protocols.
Without Manek and Hill, Kruger had to once again rely on a smaller lineup.
Austin Reaves and Umoja Gibson scored 11 points for the Sooners, and Alondes Williams had 10.
The Sooners started the second half with a 16-2 run to put the game quickly out of reach after halftime. Three different times in the second half, the Sooners scored at least 10 consecutive points in extending their lead to as many 37.
Oklahoma missed its first five shots, with its first basket coming more than three minutes into the game by Gibson, who had just come in off the bench. But Gibson's 3-pointer ignited a 10-0 run to put Oklahoma in front.
The Sooners led by 10 before three consecutive buckets by Kevin Samuel and a pair of free throws by PJ Fuller pulled the Horned Frogs to within 20-18 with 6:04 remaining in the half.
But Oklahoma closed the half with a 14-4 run and never looked back.
The Sooners also took care of the ball early, turning it over just twice in the first half while turning TCU's seven turnovers into 12 points.
In the first half, the Horned Frogs missed all eight shots they took from beyond the arc and finished just 4 of 19.
RJ Nembhard was the only TCU player who scored in double figures, finishing with 10 points on 4-of-14 shooting.
--Field Level Media