Upcoming Event: Men's Basketball versus University of Wisconsin on October 24, 2025 at 7 p.m.
7 p.m.
Men's Basketball
vs University of Wisconsin
University of Oklahoma Athletics
Saturday, March 20
Indianapolis, IN
6:25 PM
University of Oklahoma
16-10,9-8Big 12
72
vs
68
Missouri
16-10,8-8SEC
1
2
F
Missouri
27
41
68
Oklahoma
26
46
72
Photo by: 2021 NCAA Photos
Sooners Advance With Win Over Mizzou
March 20, 2021 | Men's Basketball
INDIANAPOLIS – Trying to defend a three-point lead with under 6 seconds left, Oklahoma's Elijah Harkless played it perfectly.
Harkless fouled Missouri's Drew Buggs as he dribbled, putting him at the line with 2.1 seconds remaining — which wasn't enough — and the Sooners slipped by the ninth-seeded Tigers to win 72-68 on Saturday night in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Oklahoma coach Lon Kruger said his strategy is always to foul up three in the final 6 seconds of a game. But that decisive Missouri possession started with 17 seconds left and there was no timeout for the Sooners' coaches to tell their players what to do.
"It's one thing to kind of plan on doing it, it's another thing to make the play that E.J. did, and actually get the foul," Kruger said. "Elijah made a very good, heads-up play right there."
Eighth-seeded Oklahoma (16-10) is on to the second round for fourth time in the last six tournaments and will likely face No. 1 Gonzaga on Monday in the West Region. The unbeaten Zags faced 16 seed Norfolk State later Saturday night.
The Sooners pulled out to an eight-point lead with 1:08 left behind Austin Reaves (23 points) and Brady Manek (19 points), but Dru Smith made two 3-pointers in the final minute to keep the pressure on and pull Missouri within 70-67 with 46.7 seconds to go.
Smith led the Tigers (16-10) with 20 points.
Reaves missed a jumper late that gave Missouri a possession to tie. They fumbled the ball around to waste some precious seconds, and then Harkless smartly fouled Buggs, reaching at his dribbling hand, to prevent the 3-point attempt the Tigers needed.
Buggs made the first and missed the second on purpose. Jalen Hill grabbed the rebound for the Sooners, was fouled and made two more free throws to wrap it up a quintessential 8-9 game between the former Big 12 rivals. The lead changed nine times and never reached double digits for either team.
"You've got to be composed," Reaves said. "Late in the year we dropped some of those (close) games. I feel like it was similar tonight, but we came out on the better end of the stick this time."
Both teams limped into the NCAA Tournament. Oklahoma ended the season losing five of six — all by seven points or fewer — in the tough Big 12.
Missouri went 3-6 in its final nine in the Southeastern Conference.
Harkless fouled Missouri's Drew Buggs as he dribbled, putting him at the line with 2.1 seconds remaining — which wasn't enough — and the Sooners slipped by the ninth-seeded Tigers to win 72-68 on Saturday night in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Oklahoma coach Lon Kruger said his strategy is always to foul up three in the final 6 seconds of a game. But that decisive Missouri possession started with 17 seconds left and there was no timeout for the Sooners' coaches to tell their players what to do.
"It's one thing to kind of plan on doing it, it's another thing to make the play that E.J. did, and actually get the foul," Kruger said. "Elijah made a very good, heads-up play right there."
Eighth-seeded Oklahoma (16-10) is on to the second round for fourth time in the last six tournaments and will likely face No. 1 Gonzaga on Monday in the West Region. The unbeaten Zags faced 16 seed Norfolk State later Saturday night.
The Sooners pulled out to an eight-point lead with 1:08 left behind Austin Reaves (23 points) and Brady Manek (19 points), but Dru Smith made two 3-pointers in the final minute to keep the pressure on and pull Missouri within 70-67 with 46.7 seconds to go.
Smith led the Tigers (16-10) with 20 points.
Reaves missed a jumper late that gave Missouri a possession to tie. They fumbled the ball around to waste some precious seconds, and then Harkless smartly fouled Buggs, reaching at his dribbling hand, to prevent the 3-point attempt the Tigers needed.
Buggs made the first and missed the second on purpose. Jalen Hill grabbed the rebound for the Sooners, was fouled and made two more free throws to wrap it up a quintessential 8-9 game between the former Big 12 rivals. The lead changed nine times and never reached double digits for either team.
"You've got to be composed," Reaves said. "Late in the year we dropped some of those (close) games. I feel like it was similar tonight, but we came out on the better end of the stick this time."
Both teams limped into the NCAA Tournament. Oklahoma ended the season losing five of six — all by seven points or fewer — in the tough Big 12.
Missouri went 3-6 in its final nine in the Southeastern Conference.
BIG PICTURE
The Sooners were without guard De'Vion Harmon, who tested positive for COVID-19 upon arrival in Indianapolis. The sophomore was the team's second-leading scorer (12.3 points per game) and is expected to miss round two as well.UP NEXT
If it's Sooners vs. Gonzaga, it will be the fourth meeting. The Zags lead 2-1.
Team Stats
Mizzou
OU
FG%
.379
.418
3FG%
.407
.467
FT%
.813
.792
RB
36
32
TO
10
6
STL
5
5
Game Leaders
Pts
23
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
10
Pts
19
FGM
6
3FGM
5
FTM
2
Pts
16
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
4
FGM
1
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballG
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