University of Oklahoma Athletics
University of Oklahoma
7-1,0-0Big 12
Florida
6-1,0-0SEC
Oklahoma Upsets No. 14 Florida
December 01, 2021 | Men's Basketball
NORMAN — Tanner Groves scored 20 points to lead Oklahoma to a 74-67 victory over No. 14 Florida on Wednesday night.
Groves, a transfer from Eastern Washington, shot 8-of-11 and had eight rebounds.
Jalen Hill scored 18 points and Umoja Gibson added 15 for Oklahoma (7-1), which earned its biggest win yet under new coach Porter Moser. He picked up his 300th career coaching win after previous stops at Arkansas-Little Rock, Illinois State and Loyola Chicago.
Phlandrous Fleming Jr. scored 17 points and Colin Castleton added 14 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks for Florida (6-1).
The Sooners led 9-0 before the Gators scored on a free throw nearly four minutes into the game. The Gators committed five turnovers before making a shot.
Florida chipped away throughout the half and took the lead for the first time on three free throws by Tyree Appleby just over a minute before the break. Oklahoma recovered and led 37-36 at halftime.
A 3-pointer by Groves pushed the lead to seven with just under 6 minutes remaining, and Hill followed with a thunderous right-handed jam that gave the Sooners a 65-56 lead and prompted a Florida timeout.
Florida rallied, and a 3-pointer by Appleby cut Oklahoma's lead to 69-67 with about 2 minutes remaining. But Hill scored, was fouled and made the free throw to push the Sooners' lead back to five, and Oklahoma remained in control from there.
At halftime of Wednesday's game, Oklahoma recognized former head coach Lon Kruger, who announced his retirement after last season following a decade of service at OU and over 30 seasons as a college coach.
The Sooners return to Lloyd Noble Center Tuesday, Dec. 7 when they host Butler at 8 p.m. CT on ESPN 2.
