It is never easy in Ames for OU, but for the first time since 2011 the Sooners got it done with a hard fought 66-56 win to sweep the Cyclones in a season during the Lon Kruger Era.
You have to play hard in the Big 12 for forty minutes regardless the foe. Iowa State erased an OU twenty-one point first half lead and actually took a two point lead midway in the second half, but Hall of Famer Lon Kruger called a timeout, inserted Kur Kuath for defense at the five, and his Sooners responded by winning the last ten minutes on the road against a scrappy Iowa State team.
Since Elijah Harkless become eligible the Sooners are 8-1 with the lone loss being a one possesion in Lubbock against Chris Beard’s tough Red Raider ball club.
Austin Reeves once again lead the Sooners with 22 points while DeVion Harman and Moj Gibson combined for twenty points. Do it all Elijah Harkless narrowly missed a double double, but seemingly came up with most of the crucial fifty fifty balls when OU finally separated in the final minutes of the game.
OU takes sole possession of second place in the Big 12 with the win behind No. 2 Baylor and improves to 15-6 overall. The goal now for OU is to win their way to a regional No. 2 seed or No. 3 seed and avpid playing either Gonzaga or Baylor until an Elite 8 regional final.
The Sooners head to Manhattan, Kansas for a game against the Wildcats. Manhattan is the lone Big 12 campus I’ve never been to a foorball or basketball game to minus West Virginia. I think I might just see if OU has some extra tickets to sit near the Sooners bench area and make the trip.
It’s a tough.. tough league. I can’t wait for the Bedlam doubleheader coming up, plus Cade and O State host Texas Tech on Big 12 Monday. I might actually go to that one as well on Monday as we head into the goal achieving portion of college hoops.