OU's Buddy Hield scored 37 points to help the Sooners to an 80-68 win against Oregon to clinch a spot in the Final Four.
Oklahoma guard Buddy Hield has said all year the goal was to make it to Houston and play in the Final Four. Because of his efforts, the Sooners will get the chance.
Hield scored a tournament-high 37 points to help second-seeded OU to an 80-68 victory over No. 1-seeded Oregon on Saturday evening at the Honda Center.
The win clinches the Sooners first berth in the Final Four since 2002.
Coming off a mere 17-point performance in the win against Texas A&M, Hield was on a mission early and often. He came out and made the statement that Saturday was not going to be his final game.
Hield shot 13 of 20 from the floor (65 percent) and tied his career high with eight 3-pointers. As a team, OU shot 12 of 24 (50 percent) from downtown.
Hield punctuated the first half with a deep 3-pointer to give the Sooners a 48-30 lead heading into intermission. Oregon would make its attempts at a comeback multiple times in the second half but never pulled within single digits.
For all the talk of OU’s offense, it was the defense that stepped up in a major way as well. The Sooners limited the Ducks to 39 percent shooting from the field, and Oregon only connected on 4 of 21 from 3-point territory.
OU also outrebounded Oregon 38-32, including holding a commanding 23-10 edge in the first half.
Junior guard Jordan Woodard had 13 points before fouling out, while Isaiah Cousins added 11 points, seven assists and five rebounds for OU.
Hield had no idea one of his role models, Kobe Bryant, was in attendance Thursday. He knew Saturday and gave a performance for the ages.
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