The Oklahoma Sooners erupted in the second half, fueled by a 15-0 run, to secure their first SEC victory with an 82-62 triumph over the visiting South Carolina Gamecocks at Lloyd Noble Center on Saturday.
All 10 Sooners who saw action contributed to the scoring effort as Oklahoma outscored South Carolina 19-3 in points off turnovers. The Sooners limited their turnovers to just one in the second half after committing 11 in the first.
Oklahoma showcased its offensive firepower, shooting 56.0% from the field, their second-best performance of the season. They also excelled from beyond the arc, connecting on 8-of-17 three-point attempts (47.1%) and maintaining their impressive free-throw shooting percentage, going 18-of-21 (85.7%).
Freshman guard Jeremiah Fears led Oklahoma’s offensive charge with 16 points, nine rebounds, and a career-high eight assists, becoming only the second Sooner since 1996-97 to achieve this impressive stat line.
The Sooners jumped out to an early lead, but South Carolina rallied to take a brief advantage in the second half. However, a crucial 15-0 run propelled Oklahoma to a commanding lead, ultimately sealing the victory.
Kobe Elvis and Dayton Forsythe provided significant contributions off the bench, combining for five three-pointers. Forsythe, in particular, showcased his impact with five points, two rebounds, and an assist in just 13 minutes of action.
With this victory, Oklahoma improves to 14-4 overall and 1-4 in SEC play. They will look to build on this momentum as they travel to Arkansas for their next matchup on Saturday, January 25th at 7:30 p.m. CT, which will be televised on ESPN2.
Second-Half Surge Lifts Sooners
The Sooners found themselves in a familiar position on Saturday afternoon: trailing in SEC play and facing the very real possibility of an 0-5 conference record. After a sluggish first half that saw them commit 11 turnovers and trail 34-30, the Sooners appeared to be on the brink of another disappointing loss.
However, with their backs against the wall, the Sooners ignited a decisive 15-0 run that ultimately propelled them to an 82-62 victory over the South Carolina Gamecocks.
The surge began with back-to-back trips to the free-throw line for Jalon Moore, followed by a spectacular alley-oop dunk from Jeremiah Fears to Mohamed Wague. Moore added another layup to extend the lead, but it was Kobe Elvis’ three-pointer with 4:05 remaining that truly ignited the crowd and put the Sooners in control.
This decisive run proved to be the turning point in the game. Oklahoma rode this momentum to a comfortable victory, snapping their four-game losing streak in SEC play.
“The understatement of the year is how bad we needed that,” Oklahoma head coach Porter Moser said after the game. “To get that narrative of getting the first one out of the way and getting our confidence back up to play winning basketball. You’re going to have tons of opportunities in this league.
Turnover Troubles Fade
Turnovers threatened to derail the Oklahoma Sooners once again, as they committed 11 in the first half against South Carolina on Saturday. However, a dramatic shift in the second half, coupled with South Carolina’s own struggles with ball security, proved to be the turning point in the Sooners’ 82-62 victory.
“I think that’s the narrative of this team,” Coach Porter Moser acknowledged after the game. “It was better winning basketball. It’s been a theme for us these last two days. We need to play better winning basketball to win games. I thought we had 11 (turnovers) in the first half, and we talked about: How many were unforced? Just dribbling too deep.”
The Sooners dramatically improved their ball-handling in the second half, committing just one turnover. This marked a significant turnaround, allowing them to gain control of the game and pull away from the Gamecocks.
South Carolina’s struggles with turnovers were equally significant. The Gamecocks committed 17 turnovers, contributing significantly to Oklahoma’s ability to gain, and maintain, a lead. The Sooners capitalized on these miscues, outscoring South Carolina 19-3 in points off turnovers, demonstrating the crucial impact of ball security in the game.
Moser emphasized the importance of limiting turnovers, stating, “We really took care of it in the second half. Just way more urgency.”
Forsythe Continues To Make His Presence Felt
Freshman guard Dayton Forsythe again emerged as a key contributor for Oklahoma. After limited minutes in previous SEC games, Forsythe saw increased playing time against the Gamecocks and made an immediate impact.
He entered the game midway through the first half and quickly made his presence felt, drilling a jumper just 14 seconds after checking in. However, it was his performance in the second half that truly showcased his potential.
With the Sooners struggling to gain separation, Forsythe drained a crucial three-pointer with 8:14 remaining, extending Oklahoma’s lead to eight points, contributing to a decisive 15-0 run that ultimately sealed the victory.
“After last game, we talked about it, and we all felt like, why do anything different than we did the last 15 minutes of the Texas game?” Forsythe said. “I feel like today we did that. We played like the last 15 minutes and we gave everything we had, and the result was the result.”
Forsythe finished the game with five points, two rebounds, and an assist, while also providing valuable energy and effort on both ends of the floor. His performance against South Carolina has likely earned him a more prominent role in the Sooners’ rotation moving forward.
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