Oklahoma Looks to End Rough Stretch

NORMAN, Okla. -- Oklahoma has hit a rough stretch in an otherwise successful season.

The 21st-ranked Sooners will try to end a three-game losing streak when they host Big 12 rival Nebraska on Wednesday.

Oklahoma (17-6, 6-4) was challenging for the conference lead before its recent slide. The Sooners have slipped back into fourth place in the Big 12, and are searching for answers.

The latest setback was a frustrating 68-65 overtime loss at Missouri on Saturday. Oklahoma held a 55-45 lead with 5:39 to go in regulation before collapsing down the stretch.

``I just don't think we have a great margin of error and we need a lot of guys to play good at the same time,'' Oklahoma coach Kelvin Sampson said.

``Right now I don't think we're getting as good a (level of) guard play as we need to. When you're up 10 points with five minutes to go, the key is don't turn the ball over.''

Oklahoma guards Drew Lavender and Lawrence McKenzie combined to make 4-of-17 shots for 14 points in the loss. Lavender is 7-of-22 from the field and McKenzie just 13-of-35 during the losing streak.

Lavender failed to register an assist Saturday for the first time in his career.

The Sooners will count on Taj Gray, who is averaging 16.4 points and 9.6 boards in conference play, to help spark a turnaround. Gray also leads the Big 12 with 52 blocks.

Nebraska coach Barry Collier doesn't view Oklahoma as a struggling team.

``They've got the leading shot blocker in the league, a guy averaging 20 and 12 and you just kind of go from there,'' Collier said. ``They're extremely well coached. We're all battling through the league and I think that Oklahoma's got a ton of plusses.''

Oklahoma is averaging 16.7 turnovers in its last three games after averaging just 12.1 through its first seven Big 12 games.

``I think we're close to playing well,'' Sampson said. ``It's just being consistent for 40 minutes and being consistent handling the ball are the two areas we need to improve on.''

Nebraska is searching for a third Big 12 road win for the first time since 1998-99. The Cornhuskers improved to 2-3 in conference road games with a 74-63 win at Baylor on Saturday.

Impressive freshman Joe McCray is averaging a team-high 14.9 points. McCray has made 61 3-pointers to set a school record for freshmen and is second in the Big 12 with 2.9 per game.

``I think he's a very talented youngster,'' said Sampson of McCray. ``What's impressed me is how he's stepped in and been real comfortable scoring the ball. He's obviously got a lot of confidence.''

Oklahoma has won six straight against Nebraska, including a pair of meetings last season. The Sooners rallied from a 13-point halftime deficit for a 63-59 win over the Huskers in the first round of last year's Big 12 tournament.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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