Oklahoma Postgame Notes

Jan. 26, 2008

• Oklahoma (14-5 overall, 2-2 Big 12) won for the 27th straight time against Baylor (16-3, 4-1) and for the 15th straight time in Waco. OU is the only Big 12 program the Bears have not beaten since the league began play in the 1996-97 season (23-0).

• OU improved to 3-2 in road games this year and to 3-3 against ranked opponents (Baylor entered the game ranked No. 25). Baylor fell to 9-2 at home this year with the other loss coming to Washington State (ranked No. 6 this week) by three points.

• Twelve days after sustaining a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee (he was expected to be out for up to four weeks), freshman forward Blake Griffin returned to action and registered team highs of 17 points and 15 rebounds while adding three assists in 22 minutes of action. His double-double was his seventh of the year and fourth in his last six games (not including the Kansas game when he played only five minutes before getting hurt).

• Griffin entered the game at the 14:31 mark of the first half and his dunk at the 13:12 mark gave OU its first lead of the game (one it would not relinquish until 1:57 left in the game).

• The Sooners led by nine at halftime and extended their advantage to as many as 16 points on two occasions in the second half. Baylor went on a 27-12 run to take its only second-half lead (71-70) before Griffin scored on OU's next possession to immediately put the Sooners ahead again.

• Five Sooners scored in double figures on the day. In addition to Griffin's 17, Austin Johnson netted 15, Longar Longar 13, Tony Crocker 11 and David Godbold 10.

• Longar scored in double figures for the 10th time in the last 11 games and also added five rebounds, a team-high four assists and two blocked shots. He scored more points before halftime (nine) than after (three) for just the second time in the last 11 outings.

• Johnson was 3-for-7 from 3-point range and his 15 points were his most since a 17-point effort against Arkansas on Dec. 15 (span of eight games). The junior guard had totaled 15 points over OU's four games prior to today (3.8 average).

• Johnson is averaging 11.2 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists in OU's five road games while shooting .538 from the field and .545 (12-for-22) from 3-point range. By contrast, Johnson is averaging 7.4 points, 2.4 boards and 2.4 assists while shooting .342 from the field and .205 (8-for-39) from long distance in home games.

• The Sooners held Baylor to .377 field goal shooting, the Bears' second worst effort of the season.

• Oklahoma's 50 rebounds tied a season high (also 50 at TCU on Dec. 2).