OU Picks Up First Conference Win against Texas Tech

Sooners forced Red Raiders into 20 turnovers in 83-74 victory.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 12:09 pm

By: News On 6

OU Picks Up First Conference Win against Texas Tech

Originally Published: Jan 18, 2011 9:42 PM CDT

Grant Belcher
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

NORMAN, Okla. – It might not have been a big-name opponent, but it was a step in the right direction.

OU beat Texas Tech 83-74 on Tuesday at the Lloyd Noble Center in a battle of teams that were winless in conference play coming into the game.

The Sooners struggled early as the Red Raiders jumped out to a quick leads of 7-2 and 15-9, but OU battled back and took its first lead on a pair of free throws from Andrew Fitzgerald with 6:54 left in the first.

The free throws were part of a 16-4 run which allowed Oklahoma to gain a nine-point advantage before leading 31-24 at half.

Cade Davis had a big game for the Sooners, connecting on back-to-back 3s seven minutes into the second half to give his team an 11-point advantage. Davis led all scorers with 25 and added seven rebounds.

As the Sooners cruised, Tech extended the game with fouls, but OU was near-perfect from the foul line in crunch time. The Sooners hit 15 of their final 16 free throws in the game’s final 2:17. They shot 85 percent from the line on the game.

OU (9-9, 1-3 Big 12) used great defense to hold Tech to 39 percent shooting in the game and keep the Red Raiders winless in conference play.

All five Sooner starters scored in double figures as Fitzgerald added 20, Steven Pledger had 14 and guards Carl Blair and Cameron Clark had 11 each.

John Roberson led the Red Raiders with 21 points.

Oklahoma will host Colorado on Saturday at 12:30 p.m.