Buddy Buckets: Hield Leads Sooners To Comeback Win Over LSU

The battle of the two most talked about Player of the Year candidates went down today between Oklahoma’s Buddy Hield and LSU’s Ben Simmons.

Game Synopsis

LSU built an early 11-10 lead just before the game’s first timeout and soon advanced their advantage, 19-14. At this point, the Tigers were shooting 58 percent from the field and 50 percent from downtown while OU held a 9-7 rebounding advantage. All but three Sooner buckets were contributed by Ryan Spangler and Isaiah Cousins.

Despite Oklahoma’s deficit, the team wasn’t off their game, shots just weren’t falling. With 7:51 before the half, Hield, the only Division I player that ranks in the top seven in three-pointers, had seven points but soon elevated to 11 along with a team-high five boards to lead the Sooners into intermission.

The Tigers hot shooting (56 percent from the field, 58 percent from deep) helped them carry a 44-36 lead into halftime. OU, who opened the game leading the nation in three-pointers, shot just 36 percent from long range.

LSU opened the second half just like they did the first, extending their lead by ten and still shooting over 50 percent from the field and from the three-point line.

Hield soon stepped up for his team, tallying 29 points off 10 of 21 shooting, including seven for 14 from deep. This marked the 12th time in the last 14 contests that Hield a.k.a Buddy Buckets hit 20 plus points.

Hield’s hot streak led to a 73-72 Sooner lead and his eighth game of the season scoring 30 plus (32).

The Tigers stayed in it, fighting back and tying the game 75-all with a three just 20 seconds before the final buzzer. But Oklahoma prevailed with a 77-75 win.