Oklahoma/West Virginia Preview

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) -- Oklahoma received encouraging production from Taj Gray in its last game.

The senior forward looks to keep it going Thursday when the seventh-ranked Sooners take on West Virginia in the 70th All-College Classic at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City, Okla.

Gray had 22 points and 14 rebounds as Oklahoma (6-1) beat Southern 68-54 on Saturday. Both totals matched season highs for the Big 12 preseason player of the year, who is rounding into form after a slow start to the season.

Gray averaged only 10.3 points per game through the Sooners' first four contests. But in the last three games, he is shooting 71 percent and averaging 20.7 points.

Game Notes | Sooner Basketball Central

``I think I'm getting better looks,'' said Gray, giving credit to his guards for getting him the ball in scoring position. ``I get good shots because of them. They really help me out.''

Oklahoma controlled most aspects of the game, despite going 5-for-24 on 3-pointers and shooting 38 percent overall.

``We dominated every phase of the game. We could not make a layup, we couldn't make a free throw, we couldn't make an open jump shot,'' Oklahoma coach Kelvin Sampson said. ``Had we done all those things, we'd be sitting here talking about how great we played.''

The Sooners committed a season-low 10 turnovers and grabbed 27 offensive rebounds.

``This game was similar to the game last year against Texas when we didn't outscore them - we outrebounded them,'' Sampson said. ``We did a lot of good things and I'm pleased with how everyone played.''

West Virginia (6-3) will provide a tougher test for Oklahoma, which has won 12 straight at the All-College Classic, the world's oldest basketball tournament.

``West Virginia is a great team that is not that many points from being undefeated,'' Sampson said. ``This game is going to be a great test for us.''

The Mountaineers have won four in a row after a three-game losing streak dropped them out of the Top 25. West Virginia has won its last three by at least 20 points, making 13 3-pointers in each game.

In an 86-66 home victory over Duquesne on Dec. 10, Kevin Pittsnogle had 21 points and eight rebounds while Mike Gansey had 20 points and seven boards as the Mountaineers led by as many as 32 points in the second half.

``Mike and Kevin are playing as well as anyone in the country right now,'' West Virginia coach John Beilein said.

Oklahoma will be the third Top-10 team the Mountaineers have played this season. They lost to then-No. 2 Texas 76-75 in a Guardians Classic semifinal on Nov. 21, and lost to then-No. 7 Kentucky 80-66 the next day in the consolation game.

``It's a compliment to us to be asked to play in Oklahoma in this great tournament,'' Beilein said. ``It's important that we went in there feeling good and really put something on the plate as far as national attention.''

This is the first meeting between the teams. No. 23 Tennessee plays Oklahoma State in the first game of the tournament.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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