Turnover Woes Lead Sooners to Third Straight Loss

OU committed a total of 18 turnovers that led to 24 points in a 23-point loss.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 12:12 pm

By: News On 6

Turnover Woes Lead Sooners to Third Straight Loss

Originally Published: Feb 12, 2011 3:11 PM CDT

Corey DeMoss
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

COLUMBIA, Mo. – The Oklahoma Sooners could not overcome a rash of turnovers in an 84-61 blowout loss to the Missouri Tigers on Saturday.

The Sooners (12-12, 4-6) started well, sinking five of their first seven shots to take a quick lead at the beginning of the game. But that success would not last.

OU’s problems with turnovers started in the first half, which allowed Missouri (19-6, 5-5) to go on a 14-1 run to take its first lead. The Sooners managed to tie the game minutes later, but it was all Missouri from there.

The Tigers took a six-point lead into halftime and gradually built on it for the rest of the game. OU finished the game with 18 turnovers, which Missouri converted into 24 points.

The Tigers removed their starters once they built a huge lead, resulting in an identical 42-42 scoring split between their starters and bench players. A total of 10 different Mizzou players scored, led by Michael Dixon with 16 points off the bench. Ricardo Ratliffe scored 13, and Justin Safford added 11.

Cameron Clark led OU with 16 points, and Tyler Neal scored 14 off the bench. Continuing a year-long trend, Neal was the only bench player to contribute significantly. The rest of the bench combined to score just two points in 28 minutes on the floor.

The Sooners have been streaky through conference play; they started on a three-game losing streak, followed with a four-game winning streak, and now are on another three-game losing skid. They will try to recover in their next game against Nebraska at 8 p.m. Wednesday in Norman.