OU, Seton Hall Clash in ESPN Events Invitational Semifinals

NORMAN – Oklahoma (4-1, 0-0 Big 12) and Seton Hall (4-1, 0-0 BIG EAST) meet in the semifinal round of the ESPN Events Invitational on Friday, Nov. 25 at 7 p.m. (CT) at State Farm Field House in Kissimmee, Fla.

The Friday night matchup against the Pirates will be broadcast on ESPN2 with Mark Neely and Randolph Childress on the call. Fans may also listen 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.

OU holds the 2-1 series advantage. In their last meeting, the Sooners beat the Pirates 86-85 after scoring seven points in the final minute of the Coaches vs. Cancer semifinal round in Brooklyn, N.Y.

OU extended its win streak to four games after beating former Big 12 foe Nebraska 69-56 Thursday night. Tanner Groves and Jacob Groves combined for 33 of Oklahoma's 69 points.

T. Groves finished with a season-high 17 points and J. Groves added a season-best 16 points. Jalen Hill tallied 13 points and Grant Sherfield added 10 points and dished out eight assists, matching his season high.

ON THE AIR

Friday's game will be televised on ESPN2 with Mark Neely and Randolph Childress on the call.

The contest is scheduled to tip 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 PIRATES

Seton Hall is under the direction of alum Shaheen Holloway. Holloway returned to the Pirates after a magical run to the Elite Eight in the 2022 NCAA Tournament with Saint Peter's. He earned his second victory over the 2022-23 season against his former squad and have added wins over Monmouth, Wagner and Memphis. The Pirates earned the 70-69 victory in its first game of the ESPN Events Invitational after Tyrese Samuel banked in a 3-pointer as time expired.
Dre Davis leads the Pirates in points per game (11.8) and has yet to start the season, appearing in four games and averaging 21.8 minutes per contest. Al-Amir Dawes adds 11.2 points per game and shots a team-best 48.0% (12-25) from deep. Tyrese Samuel corrals a team-high 7.0 boards and adds 11.2 points per contest. Tray Jackson rounds out the group of double-digit scorers (10.2 PPG). Samuel, KC Ndefo, Kadary Richmond and Femi Odukale have started all five Seton Hall games.

LAST MEETING: SETON HALL

The Sooners earned the 86-85 victory in the semifinal round of the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic after Buddy Hield buried a pair of free throws with 9.3 second to give Oklahoma the lead after trailing by six with less than a minute to play.
After a missed Seton Hall free throw, Cameron Clark scored on a layup. Clark stole the inbounds pass and made another layup. He finished with a team-high 20 points. Jordan Woodward was fouled after another takeaway, making 1 of 2 free throws. After a missed layup by Clark, Hield was fouled with under 10 seconds left.
Ryan Spangler pulled down a team-best 10 boards and Isaiah Cousins scored 19 points.

LAST TIME OUT

The Groves brothers finished with 33 points and led the Sooners to an opening-round 69-56 victory over Nebraska at the ESPN Events Invitational. The Sooners extended their win streak to four games and enter the semifinal round 4-1.
Tanner Groves tallied a season-high 17 points on 7 of 8 shooting from the field. Groves finished 3-for-3 from deep. Jacob Groves wrangled a team-high six boards and scored 16 points, the most points for Groves in an Oklahoma uniform. Grant Sherfield finished with 10 points and dished out eight assists for the second consecutive game. Jalen Hill tallied 13 points, four boards and four assists.
The Sooners shot 50.0% or greater for the second time this season. OU shot 45.0% from deep and buried nine 3-pointers.

VS. BIG EAST

The Sooners are slated to play two BIG EAST foes in an eight-day span, facing Seton Hall on Friday, Nov. 25 and playing at Villanova in the Big 12-BIG EAST Battle on Saturday, Dec. 3.

UP NEXT

Oklahoma is scheduled to face either Siena or Ole Miss on Sunday, Nov. 27. Tip time and TV designation will be determined after the two semifinal matchups.