#Sooners fight back from 17-point deficit, but fall just short of completing the comeback. Auburn wins 74-70. pic.twitter.com/BAf3XxFqL0
— Oklahoma Basketball (@OU_MBBall) December 22, 2016
The Oklahoma Sooners took to the hardwood without Jordan Woodard available on the Birthday of Basketball. Hoping for a fast start OU mustered a mere 22 points in the first half to the Auburn Tigers 34 points leaving them in a 12 point hole. Needless to say, the Sooners looked lost without the leadership of the lone senior on the court.
Experiencing the greatest deficit of the game at 17 points in the second, the Sooner defense clamped down creating 20 turnovers during the course of the game. Putting together an 11-0 run to cut the Auburn lead to 45-39.
Continuing to battle by connecting on three pointers from Matt Freeman and Jordan Shepherd, Oklahoma kept things interesting. However, they never quite figured out a way to take control of the ball game. Unable to complete to comeback, OU fell by a final of 74-70.
A dismal shooting night (32% from the field) doomed Oklahoma who shot 5-of-17 from behind the arc. However, OU put up 22 more shots than their counterpart largely in part to creating turnovers. The Sooners forced a season high 23 turnovers from Auburn.
In terms of scoring, Freshman Jordan Shepherd led the Sooners behind 13 points while Rashard Odomes collected 12 of his own. Kristian Doolittle neared a double-double with nine points and eight rebounds.