Crimsons Clash in Top-25 Battle at the LNC

^24/RVOklahoma

^9/9 Alabama

Saturday, Jan. 30 / 11 a.m. CT / Lloyd Noble Center / Norman

Tickets (Stubhub) / ESPN / Radio / Live Stats / Game Notes

NORMAN – No. 24 Oklahoma (10-4, 6-3 Big 12) gets a break from conference play on Saturday, but it's certainly not a break from tough competition. One of the hottest teams in college basketball is coming to the Lloyd Noble Center when No. 9 Alabama (14-3, 9-0) visits this weekend. The SEC/Big 12 Challenge matchup tips at 11 a.m. CT on ESPN.

Winners of 10 straight, the Crimson Tide are the highest-ranked non-conference team to come to Lloyd Noble Center since 2003 (No. 3 Connecticut). The sharp-shooting Bama squad is one of the best 3-point teams in the country and is sinking 12.4 treys per game during SEC play at a 45.4% clip.

The Sooners – on a hot streak of their own – have seen a solid spike in 3-point defense (opponents are shooting 25.9% from deep during OU's four-game winning streak) and will need to continue to lock down for a chance at yet another top-10 upset.

ON THE AIR

• The top-25 matchup will air on the Sooner Sports Radio Network (KRXO 107.7 FM The Franchise in Oklahoma City; KTBZ 1430 AM in Tulsa; Tune In Radio App) with Toby Rowland and Kevin Henry announcing.

• Jason Benetti and Dan Dakich have the call on ESPN.

TICKETS

• Tickets for the game are sold out. Fans can buy and sell tickets from fellow fans through Stubhub.

• Digital ticketing will be implemented for 2020-21 to allow fans to seamlessly access or transfer tickets to others via the SoonerSports2Go app. Step-by-step instructions and additional information on how to access and transfer tickets is available at SoonerSports.com/digitaltickets.

GAME DAY POLICIES

• Appropriate cloth or surgical-style masks that cover the nose and mouth completely will be required at all times while on campus and inside Lloyd Noble Center. Other face coverings including clear face shields, gaiters/buffs, bandanas or masks with valves are not permitted.

• OU will continue its clear-bag policy this season. The approved clear plastic tote size is a maximum of 12 inches x 6 inches x 12 inches or a one-gallon clear plastic freezer bag. Even those bags are subject to search.

• Arena doors will open to the public one (1) hour prior to tip off. The general public can utilize the north and east entrances.

• Full details on OU's game day policies at Lloyd Noble Center can be found here.

THREE POINTERS

• Oklahoma enters the SEC/Big 12 Challenge on a four-game winning streak – its longest in Big 12 play since 2015. The Sooners' recent success can be attributed to shifting to a four-guard lineup with a focus on defensive intensity. During Oklahoma's four-game winning streak, the Sooners have nearly doubled up their opponents in turnovers (60 to 33) while holding their foes to 40.3% shooting (25.9% from 3-point range). Junior guard Elijah Harkless has totaled 10 steals in that span while senior forward Kur Kuath has tallied 10 blocks.

• The Sooners are coming off big wins over top-10 teams by defeating No. 9 Kansas and No. 5 Texas – marking the first time since 1995 that Oklahoma has won back-to-back games against top-10 foes. Oklahoma will go for their third straight on Saturday against No. 9 Alabama. Michigan (2013-14) is the only team in at least 25 years to win three consecutive games against top-10 opponents during the regular season.

• In addition to the Kansas and Texas wins, the Sooners also knocked off No. 9 West Virginia on Jan. 2, totaling three top-10 wins in January. A victory over No. 9 Alabama would make Oklahoma the first team in at least 25 years to beat four top-10 teams in one calendar month during the regular season.

SERIES HISTORY: ALABAMA

• The Sooners own a 5-3 advantage in their all-time series with the Crimson Tide and are 2-0 against Alabama in Norman.

• Alabama won the most recent matchup in 2018 when future lottery pick point guards Trae Young and Collin Sexton squared off in Tuscaloosa. A total of 54 NBA Scouts from 24 teams were in attendance to watch the star point guards face each other.

• Under Lon Kruger, Oklahoma is 13-9 against current SEC teams, including 11-5 against schools which were SEC members at the time of competition.

• The Sooners have won five straight games against SEC schools.
Elijah Harkless

OKLAHOMA IN THE SEC/BIG 12 CHALLENGE

• Oklahoma is 5-2 in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge with previous wins over LSU, Missouri, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt and Mississippi State while falling to Florida and Alabama. Oklahoma won last's year matchup with Mississippi State 63-62 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in OKC.

• The Sooners are hosting the SEC/Big 12 Challenge for the third straight season. While the challenge is designed to alternate home/road each season, last season was given an exception. When the Big 12/Big East Battle was established last season, the league office deemed that each Big 12 team would play one conference challenge at home and one on the road. The Sooners already had a home-and-home contract in place with their Big East opponent (Creighton in 2019), thus switching their 2020 SEC Challenge to be at home. Oklahoma will return to alternating between home and road matchups next season by playing on the road in the 2022 Big 12/SEC Challenge.

• Oklahoma's 5-2 record is tied for the Big 12's second-best record in the challenge. Only Baylor (6-1) has a better record in the event among Big 12 squads.

• The Big 12 has a yearly Challenge record of 4-1-2 with wins in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2019. The two leagues tied last season.

LOOKING BACK AT OU'S WIN OVER TEXAS

• Oklahoma grinded out a one-point win over rival Texas on Tuesday, escaping Austin with an 80-79 victory and top-five win on its resume. The Sooners picked up their first road win over a top-five opponent since defeating No. 3 Wichita State on Dec. 16, 2017.

• OU, who had defeated then-No. 9 Kansas on Saturday, beat top-10 teams in back-to-back games for the first time since February 1995.

• The Sooners held off a late charge and held on to the win despite not making a field goal in the final 3:50.

• Oklahoma was led by senior guard Austin Reaves with 23 points, six rebound and four assists. The senior played in all but 42 seconds of the game.

• Sophomore guard De'Vion Harmon continued his recent streak of success by producing 13 points and a career-high-tying six rebounds.

• Junior guard Elijah Harkless, in his first game since being named Big 12 Newcomer of the Week, scored a season-best 11 points alongside four rebounds and three steals.

• Junior guard Umoja Gibson led the bench with 12 points, four boards and a pair of steals.

QUICK HITS

• Saturday's game against No. 9 Alabama will be Oklahoma's sixth game against a top-10 opponent this January. The Sooners will be the first team since at least 1996 (as far back as the Stats Inc. database can search) to face six top-10 teams in a calendar month (includes March/postseason).

• Prior to this season, Oklahoma had faced three straight top-10 teams only one time (in 1958). OU is now facing three straight top-10 opponents for the second time this month.

• Oklahoma is 3-2 against top-10 teams this season. All five matchups have taken place in January.

• Lucky number nine? Oklahoma is hosting a No. 9 ranked team for the third time this month. The Sooners are 2-0 against No. 9 this season with wins over West Virginia and Kansas.

• Oklahoma is 21-9 at home during the Lon Kruger era when both teams are ranked.

• The Sooners have won 22 straight home non-conference matchups (19 straight at Lloyd Noble Center). OU's last non-conference home loss came in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge to Florida on Jan. 28, 2017.

• Oklahoma has won 145 of its last 152 non-conference games in Norman and is 53-4 at Lloyd Noble Center against non-conference opponents under Lon Kruger.

• Junior guard Elijah Harkless is the defending Big 12 Newcomer of the Week. The transfer from Cal State Northridge fueled the Sooners to a 2-0 week as the team's defensive catalyst with wins over Kansas State and No. 9 Kansas. The 6-3 guard led the conference in steals (six), rebounds (20) and rebounds per game (10.0). He made his pressence known throughout the stat sheet, also averaging 7.5 points, 4.5 assists and 50% shooting.

• Since being inserted into OU's starting lineup on Jan. 9, Harkless is averaging 2.6 steals per game - the fourth-most among major-conference players during that span. He is one only two major-conference players averaging at least 6.0 rebounds and 2.5 steals since Jan. 9.

• Sophomore guard De'Vion Harmon has led the Sooners in scoring during their four-game winning streak, averaging 18.3 points on 54.9% shooting (42.3% from 3) in that stretch.

• The Sooners boast a deep and versatile roster with multiple players who can go off. Three different Sooners have reached at least 29 points in a game with Brady Manek producing 29 points against UTSA (Dec. 3), Austin Reaves scoring 32 at TCU (Dec. 6) and Umoja Gibson totaling 29 versus West Virginia (Jan. 2). Oklahoma is the only team in the country with three different players boasting 29-point performances this season. The OU trio's scoring milestones account for three of the six highest-scoring games by Big 12 players this season. Reaves' 32 are the most by a Big 12 player this season. Additionally, De'Vion Harmon has scored at least 22 points on three occassions this season.

• OU boasts three players who have totaled at least 1,000 points in their Division I careers: Brady Manek (1,319 - all at OU), Austin Reaves (1,078) and Umoja Gibson (1,012).

• Oklahoma's 77.6 points per game rank second in the Big 12.

• The Sooners are 7-0 when scoring at least 78 points. Oklahoma is averaging 82.3 points per game in victories and 66.0 in losses.

• The Sooners rank second in the Big 12 in both assists (15.1) and steals (7.8).

• Junior guard Umoja Gibson was named Big 12 Player of the Week, Big 12 Newcomer of the Week and NCAA.com National Player of the Week for games played Dec. 28 - Jan. 3. Gibson poured in 29 points against No. 9 West Virginia on Jan. 2 on 10-of-14 shooting (8-of-11 from 3-point range) while adding five rebounds, two assists and two steals. At the time of the game, his 29 points were the second-most off the bench by any major-conference player this season. His career-high eight 3-pointers were tied for the most by a non-starter in any Division I game this season.

• Sometimes the key to victory is as simple as making shots. Over the last two seasons, the Sooners are 24-1 when they have a better field goal percentage than their opponents. Their only loss when owning a better field goal percentage was on the road at then-No. 1 Baylor last season.

• Oklahoma is committing only 10.3 turnovers per game - the fewest in the Big 12 and 12th best in Division I.

• The Sooners also lead the league in fewest fouls committed per game, fouling an average of 14.1 times - the seventh-fewest in the country. This continues a trend that Oklahoma showed a lot of discipline in last season, commiting only 13.4 personal fouls per game in 2019-20 – the third fewest in the country. This year, OU opponents are shooting an average of 13.2 foul shots per game, compared to OU's 18.9 free throw attempts.

• OU is making the most of its trips to the line, leading the Big 12 in free throw percentage with a 75.1% rate. Austin Reaves is fourth in the Big 12 in free throw percentage (86.5%).

• Senior forward Kur Kuath is second in the Big 12 in blocked shots with 21 (1.7 per game). He is averaging 2.0 per game during league play.

UP NEXT: TEXAS TECH

• After facing its third-straight top-10 opponent in Alabama on Saturday, the Sooners will head on the road to face - you guess it - another top-10 team. The Sooners have a short turnaround before returning to conference play to face No. 10 Texas Tech on Monday night in Lubbock. The ESPN Big Monday matchup tips at 8 p.m. CT on ESPN.

• The Sooners are 10-9 against Tech in the Lon Kruger era but haven't won in Lubbock since 2015.

• The Red Raiders squeaked out a two-point win over the Sooners in their first meeting of the season on Dec. 22, handing Oklahoma its only home loss of the season.

• Winners of four straight Big 12 games, the Sooners will look to extend their conference winning streak to five in-a-row for the first time since the 2014-15 season.