Gibson Led Sooners Top Missouri State

Tuesday, March 15

Norman

6 PM

University of Oklahoma

19-15,7-11Big 12

Missouri State

23-11,13-5MVC

Missouri St.

Oklahoma

Photo by: Ty Russell

March 15, 2022 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Stats (PDF)Photos Highlights

NORMAN – Umoja Gibson tallied a team-high 28 points and led Oklahoma (19-15, 7-11 Big 12) to an 89-72 NIT first round victory over Missouri State (23-11, 13-5 MVC) at Lloyd Noble Center Tuesday.

Fresh off being named to the Big 12 All-Tournament Team after 16 points against No. 14/14 Texas Tech and 13 points in a victory over No. 3/3 Baylor, Gibson stormed out of the gates against the Bears.

The Waco, Texas product finished the first 20 minutes of play with 17 points on 5-for-8 shooting. Gibson tallied four 3-pointers and was 3-for-3 from the line.

Fellow senior Jordan Goldwire added 13 points and six assists in the first half and finished the night with 15 points on 7-for-11 shooting with a team-high eight assists.

Oklahoma entered halftime with a six-point advantage.

After the two teams traded baskets to open the half, the Sooners put together a 12-3 run and made it 62-48 with 14:16 remaining.

OU realized its largest lead of the game after C.J. Noland tallied a 3-pointer and layup on back-to-back positions, giving the Sooners the 19-point edge with under seven minutes remaining.

OU finished the night shooting 50% (33-66) from the field and 48% (12-25) from three. Gibson and Goldwire were the only two Sooners to finish with double-figure points.

Tanner Groves led OU on the glass, wrangling nine boards to go along with nine points.

Gibson tied an Oklahoma NIT single-game record with five 3-pointers and the Sooners finished with a NIT single-game best 12 threes, eclipsing the previous mark of nine set against Michigan State, March 17, 1993. Goldwire's eight assists tied David Little for the fifth-most assists in a Oklahoma NIT game.

Porter Moser Quotes

On how the Sooners played …
They should be proud of themselves, because it is a life lesson. I said it the other night, I was gutted but I was more gutted for them. I should have a lot more in my career. Players have a limited number (of postseason opportunities). I was really heartbroken for them. It was really tough when they walked out of here and we have to turn around and play. We regrouped Monday and we just talked about the life lessons, and how you react when it doesn't go your way. That is what character is.

On production between the first and second half …
Umoja Gibson, Jordan Goldwire and Tanner Groves were terrific in the first half. I challenged some other guys. I didn't think we got great production off our bench in the first half. In the second half, I thought C.J. Noland, Ethan Chargois and Marvin Johnson gave us great minutes in the second half.