OU Set for Big 12/SEC Challenge at No. 1 Auburn

Oklahoma

(1/2) Auburn)

Saturday, Jan. 29 / 1 p.m. CT / Auburn Arena / Auburn, Ala.

NORMAN – Oklahoma (13-7, 3-5 Big 12) earned its first road Big 12 win of the season Wednesday at West Virginia and now turns its attention to No. 1/2 Auburn (19-1, 8-0 SEC) in the Big 12/SEC Challenge Saturday, Jan. 29 at Auburn Arena.

The Sooners earned the 72-62 win over the Mountaineers behind 21 points by Tanner Groves. Jacob Groves earned his first start in the Crimson and Cream and added 12 points. Umoja Gibson tallied a career-high five steals and scored 12 points.

OU is 6-2 in the Big 12/SEC Challenge and hosted then-No. 9 Alabama last season, earning the 66-61 victory.

ON THE AIR

Saturday's game will be available on ESPN with Tom Hart and Carolyn Peck on the call.

The contest tips at 1 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 TIGERS

Auburn (19-1, 8-0 SEC) has been near flawless this season with its only loss to UConn in double overtime in the Battle 4 Atlantis Nov. 24 in its fourth game of the season. The Tigers have rallied off 16-consecutive victories and won their last game at Missouri, 55-54.
Jabari Smith averages 15.1 points per game and leads four Tigers that average double figures. K.D. Johnson averages 13.3, Wendell Green Jr. 12.7 and Walker Kessler 10.9 points per game. Kessler is Auburn's leading rebounder (7.6 RPG) and has 81 blocks. Green Jr. averages a team-high 4.9 assists per game.
Auburn leads the nation in blocked shots per game (8.2) and total blocks (163), and ranks in the top 25 in seven categories. The Tigers are 13th in total steals (184) and 20th in steals per game (9.2).

AUBURN VS. OKLAHOMA TIDBITS

Oklahoma and Auburn will meet for only the fourth time Saturday. The Tigers hold a 2-1 record against the Sooners and no game has been played in Norman or Auburn.
OU's victory over Auburn occurred during the 1988 NCAA Tournament. The Sooners earned the 107-87 in the second round and were led by Stacey King's 37 points on 14-for-22 shooting. Mookie Blaylock added 21 points, Ricky Grace 15 and Dave Sieger 15. OU later played in the 1988 NCAA National Championship game against Kansas.

AGAINST AP NO. 1

Oklahoma will be looking for its first road victory over an AP No. 1 team when it plays at Auburn Saturday, Jan. 29. The Sooners are 7-16 against teams ranked No. 1 and last faced a top-ranked foe Jan. 4, 2022 when the Sooners dropped a 84-74 battle in Waco to Baylor. Oklahoma last beat an AP No. 1 team March 10, 2002 when then-No. 4 Oklahoma topped Kansas 64-55 in the Big 12 Tournament.

UP NEXT

Oklahoma returns to Norman and hosts TCU Monday, Jan. 31 at 8 p.m. (CT).