Postgame Notes

Jan. 5, 2008

• With today's 61-49 win over Rice, Oklahoma recorded its fourth straight victory to mark its longest winning streak since last season when it posted wins over Longwood, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State and Baylor (Jan. 30-Feb. 10).

• Oklahoma improved its series record against Rice to 7-2, and is now 6-0 against the Owls in Norman.

• Oklahoma upped its season record when leading at the half to 9-0 (OU led 30-27).

• Freshman Blake Griffin tied a career high with 18 points against the Owls, marking the third time this season the Oklahoma City native has hit the mark (he did it in the season opener against San Francisco and in OU's last game at West Virginia).

• Griffin's 18 points and nine rebounds led the Sooners in both categories. For Griffin, it was the fifth and ninth time, respectively, to lead Oklahoma in scoring and rebounding. He has scored in double figures in seven straight outings.

• Austin Johnson recorded a career-high six steals against Rice, surpassing his previous high of four against Colorado on Jan. 10, 2007.

• With 12 points, Johnson also hit double-digits for the sixth time in eight games. In the two games during the stretch that Johnson did not reach double figures, he finished with nine points.

• Keith Clark recorded his second double-digit scoring effort of the season with 11 points. The sophomore from Oklahoma City had previously posted 13 points against USC on Nov. 29.

• Oklahoma doubled up Rice in the paint, outscoring the Owls 32-16.

• Riding their 11 steals, the Sooners forced 22 turnovers, an opponent season high. Alcorn State's 21 turnovers on Nov. 12 were the previous high for an OU foe.

• For the second time on the season, OU held its opponent to under 30-percent shooting, limiting Rice to a .291 mark on 16-of-55 shooting. OU's best shooting defense came against Gardner-Webb when it held the Bulldogs to a .279 figure on 19-of-68 shooting on Nov. 16.

• OU is now holding its opponents to .376 field goal shooting on the season. The last time opponents shot worse for an entire campaign was 48 years ago (.339 in 1959-60).

• Oklahoma tied its season low in 3-pointers made with four. It marked the fourth time this season to do so. OU was 1-for-14 in the first half.

• Oklahoma was outrebounded for only the fourth time this season, 39-37, but improved its mark when being tied or outrebounded to 2-2.