Men's Hoops Set for Jumpman Invitational Against Florida

NORMAN – Oklahoma (8-3, 0-0 Big 12) and Florida (7-4, 0-0 SEC) will meet in the inaugural Jumpman Invitational on Tuesday, Dec. 20. The two programs are slated to compete for the second consecutive season and the contest tips at 8:30 p.m. (CT) at Spectrum Center.

Tuesday's game against the Gators will be broadcast on ESPN2 with Jon Sciambi, Jay Bilas and Angel Gray 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.

The Sooners won the previous meeting, beating Florida 74-67 last season at Lloyd Noble Center. The two programs have split the four previous meetings.

Oklahoma earned its fifth home victory of the season on Saturday, Dec. 17 and beat Central Arkansas 87-66.

Jacob Groves scored a career-high 26 points on 10 of 13 shooting. Grant Sherfield added 17 points, Tanner Groves 14 and Otega Oweh 10. T. Groves wrangled a team-high seven rebounds and Milos Uzan dished out a season-best nine assists.

ON THE AIR
Tuesday's game will be televised on ESPN2 with Jon Sciambi, Jay Bilas and Angel Gray on the call.

The contest is scheduled to tip at 8:30 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 GATORS

Todd Golden is in his first season at Florida after three seasons at San Francisco. Golden has compiled a 64-40 (.613) record in four seasons as a NCAA DI head coach and has led the Gators to a 7-4 mark to start the season.
Colin Castleton boasts team highs in points (15.2), rebounds (7.5) and blocks (2.6) per game. Will Richards averages 11.2 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. Kowacie Reeves rounds out the trio of double-digit scorers, adding 10.4 points per outing. Kyle Lofton distributes a team-best 4.1 assists and scores 9.1 points per game. Castleton is the only Gator to start all 11 contests. Lofton and Richards have started eight games apiece and Reeves and Trey Bonham have each started seven games.
Florida is ranked eighth in blocks per game (5.9), 36th in 3-point percentage (38.3%), 44th in free throws made per game (15.4) and 49th in defensive rebounds per game (27.8). Castleton is 12th nationally in blocks (29) and 13th in blocks per game (2.6). The Gators are 52nd in the NET (12/17) and seventh in the SEC.

LAST MEETING: Florida

Oklahoma head men's basketball coach Porter Moser picked up his 300th career victory and the Sooners downed No. 14 Florida 74-67 at Lloyd Noble Center.
Tanner Groves scored a team-high 20 points on 8 of 11 shooting and grabbed eight rebounds. Jalen Hill scored 18 points and Umoja Gibson added 14. Hill and Jordan Goldwire each dished out a team-best four assists.
The Sooners shot 49.1% (28-57) from the field and jumped out to a 9-0 lead to start the contest. Oklahoma entered halftime with a 37-36 advantage and held Florida to 32.3% (10-31) shooting in the second half.

FLORIDA TIES

Former Oklahoma head coach Lon Kruger led the Florida Gators from 1990-96 and led both OU and UF to the Final Four (Florida in 1994, Oklahoma in 2016). Florida associate head coach Carlin Hartman spent five seasons (2016-21) with the Sooners as an assistant coach under Kruger.
Florida's Kyle Lofton transferred from St. Bonaventure and played for the Bonnies last season. The Sooners hosted St. Bonaventure in the 2022 NIT second round.

UP NEXT
Oklahoma opens Big 12 play at home against Texas on Saturday, Dec. 31 at 1 p.m.