OU Opens Big 12 Play Against K-State

(RV/RV) Oklahoma

Kansas State

Saturday, Jan. 1 / 7 p.m. CT / Lloyd Center / Norman

ESPNU / Listen / Game Notes / Live Stats / Tickets

NORMAN – (RV/RV) Oklahoma (10-2, 0-0 Big 12) opens Big 12 play at Lloyd Noble Center versus Kansas State (8-3, 0-0 Big 12) Saturday, Jan. 1 at 7 p.m.

Oklahoma last played Dec. 22 and beat Alcorn State 72-48 to conclude non-conference play at home.

Umoja Gibson tallied a season-best 17 points and five 3-pointers against the Braves. Jordan Goldwire added 11 points and Tanner Groves scored 10 points and six rebounds for OU.

Oklahoma held Alcorn State to only 15 points at the half (34-15) and all 15 Sooners played in the victory.

Kansas State last played Dec. 21 against McNeese State and was scheduled to play North Florida Dec. 29 before the game was cancelled due to COVID-19 related issues within the UNF program.

ON THE AIR

Saturday's game will be available on ESPNU with Mike Corey and King McClure on the call.

The contest tips at 7 p.m. CT and will air on the Sooner Sports Radio Network (KRXO 107.7 FM The Franchise in Oklahoma City; KTBZ 1430 AM in Tulsa; Varsity Radio App) with Toby Rowland and Kevin Henry announcing.

SCOUTING THE WILDCATS

Kansas State (8-3, 0-0 Big 12) last played Dec. 21 and beat McNeese State 74-59 to extend its winning streak to three games. KSU is coached by Bruce Weber in his 10th season as head coach.
K-State opened the season with a trios of wins before losses against Arkansas and Illinois. KSU rebounded with another three-game winning streak before falling to Marquette in the Big East/Big 12 Challenge.
Kansas State is led by Nijel Pack, who averages 14.9 points per game. Marqkquis Nowell is the only other Wildcat to average double-figure points (12.8). Mark Smith is the team leader in rebounds (87) and rebounds per game (7.9) and Nowell averages a team-best 4.9 assists per game.

WHERE DO THEY RANK?

The Sooners are second in the Big 12 and fifth nationally in field goal percentage (51.0%) and 23rd in 3-point field goal percentage defense (27.5) and scoring defense (59.3). OU is 28th in scoring margin (15.4) and 27th in field-goal percentage defense (38.4).
OU is second in the Big 12 in 3-point made (100) and attempts (277). Umoja Gibson is first in the league in 3-point attempts (81) and has taken 29.2% of OU's 3-point shots. Among active players, Gibson is 16th in 3-pointers made (279), 18th in threes per game (2.66) and 28th in 3-point attempts (702). He ranks 69th among active players in steals (142).
Tanner Groves is third in the Big 12 and 35th nationally in field goal percentage (58.8).
Jordan Goldwire in fourth in the Big 12 in total assists (53). Goldwire is tied for 59th among active career leaders in steals (149).

SECOND HALF SURGE

Oklahoma averages 41.3 points per game in the second half compared to 32.8 points per game in the first.
The Sooners have tallied six second half performances of 40-plus points and have yet to score 40 points in the first half this season. OU tallied a season-best 63 points in the second half against UTSA.
Only three times this season the Sooners have scored the same or more points in the first half than the second.

UP NEXT

Oklahoma travels to Waco, Texas, to face No. 1/1 Baylor Tuesday, Jan. 4 at Ferrell Center.

ON THE AIR

SCOUTING THE WILDCATS

WHERE DO THEY RANK?

SECOND HALF SURGE

UP NEXT

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Umoja Gibson

Jordan Goldwire

Tanner Groves

Sponsors

University of Oklahoma Athletics