Sooners Outlast Texas Behind Osby's Career-High

Romero Osby saved the best game of his career for the Texas Longhorns.  OU fans are glad he did.

Monday, January 21st 2013, 11:52 pm

By: News 9


Romero Osby picked a heck of a night to give a career-best performance.

Osby's career-high 29 points led the Oklahoma Sooners (13-4, 4-1) to a 73-67 win over arch-rival Texas Monday night in Norman.

Although things got exciting later, the first four minutes of the game was as sloppy of a stretch as you'll ever see. Texas turned the ball over on eight of its first nine possessions, yet only trailed 6-4 at the under-16-minute timeout due to the Sooners' inability to capitalize.

Things settled down for the Horns when Sheldon McClellan started to get hot. McClellan knocked down four jumpers over a six-minute stretch to get Texas going, then knocked down a 3-ball to put UT up 24-19 with 4:17 to play in the half.

Osby answered back by scoring OU's final nine points of the first half to give the Sooners a 30-26 lead at the break. Osby finished the half with 14 points and four rebounds.

Texas (8-10, 0-5) finished the half down just four despite totaling as many turnovers as made shots (12 each). OU eight turnovers wasn't a whole lot better, but things would settle down in the second.

The Sooners slowly and steadily pulled away from the Longhorns in the second half, and when Osby knocked down a 3-pointer with 12:30 remaining, OU grabbed a 48-36 lead; its first double-digit lead of the night.

Despite the consistent 10-point stiff arm, Texas refused to quit. Ioannis Papapetrou's 3-ball with 59 seconds remaining brought the Horns within four at 69-65, but that's as close as it got.

Osby snagged eight boards to go along with his career-high in scoring. Amath M'Baye added 15 points on 6-9 shooting while the freshman Buddy Hield added 12 points on 5-8 shooting.

McClellan led Texas with 25 points, but got very little help. Papapetrou scored 10 and was the only other Longhorn in double-figures.

This edition of the Red River Rivalry was played in whiteout conditions. OU draped the seats of the Lloyd Noble Center with white t-shirts, and while not all of those shirts were claimed, the fans that did brought the noise. As action wound down, the OU fans chanted "just like football" in reference to their 63-21 beatdown of Texas' football team earlier this year.

Next up for the Sooners is a trip to Lawrence to face the No. 3 Kansas Jayhawks Saturday at 3:00 p.m.  To read more on how this win was a big one for OU, check out Luke McConnell's story here. 

Sooners' Game Against Texas Basically A Must-Win

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