Click here to view highlights and the press conference from OU's win over Texas

The OU men’s basketball team upset the No. 9 Texas Longhorns 80-71 at Lloyd Noble Center on Saturday, keeping its unbeaten home record intact.

The Sooners built up an 18-point lead by halftime, and were able to hold on long enough to secure the win.

While the Longhorns did close the deficit at times throughout the game, the Sooners never trailed on their way to victory.

OU led by as much as 19 in the second half, but Texas would not go down easy, as they chipped the deficit down to five points at one point.

“I’m really proud of our guys,” head coach Jeff Capel said. “I thought we executed and did a great job defensively early in the game.”

Capel said the home fans helped his team with their enthusiasm and support.

“Our crowd was absolutely phenomenal,” Capel said.

Freshman guard Tommy Mason-Griffin and junior guard Cade Davis had 16 points in the first half, which benefited the Sooners because sophomore guard Willie Warren struggled while playing through an ankle injury.

“Davis and Mason-Griffin were tremendous, especially in the first half,” Capel said.

Mason-Griffin continued to lead the Sooners on offense as he has in the last several games, finishing with 24 points, five boards and four assists in 39 minutes.

Capel said Mason-Griffin’s aggressive style of play is what contributes to his offensive effectiveness.

“He’s good, that’s just what it comes down to,” Capel said. “With the way he shoots the ball and the way he can attack and how strong he is, he should be a guy that gets fouled a lot.”

Despite their efforts, the Longhorns could not find a man to slow down the freshman from Houston, Texas.

“He is a really good player,” said Texas guard Avery Bradley, who shared the responsibility of guarding Mason-Griffin. “He is so quick and fast. My coach wanted me to guard him and just play hard defense on him.”

Mason-Griffin is now doing exactly what Capel said he expected of him when he joined the team.

“When I recruited [Mason-Griffin], this is kind of how I saw him — a guy that could be very difficult to guard,” Capel said.

He improved his three-point shooting percentage to 46.3, making him the most proficient marksman in the Big 12. In conference play, Mason-Griffin is shooting 51.9 percent from deep.

Senior forward Ryan Wright had a career night against the plethora of Texas big men. Wright played 30 minutes, just four short of his season high, and produced 11 points and 14 rebounds — his first career double-double.

“Just the chance to be out there, be a big contributor to wins like this; this is something I’ve been waiting my whole career for,” Wright said. “To finally be able to do it my senior year, it’s just a dream come true.”

The UCLA-transfer fouled out with 1:36 left in the contest after making the starting lineup. His stellar performance was much needed, Davis said.

“He was incredible, just coming in and getting us huge points, boosting the offensive game, and on defense their coming in early and getting on [Dexter] Pittman and those guys,” Davis said.

Capel has held Wright in high regard all season and said his game against the ‘Horns might have been the best game he’s ever played at OU.

“He’s always played hard for us,” Capel said. “No one deserves it more than him because we don’t have a kid in our program that works harder than Ryan Wright.”

The Sooners will have an opportunity to avenge their earlier loss to Texas Tech when they face the Red Raiders at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Norman. OU lost the previous meeting 75-65 Jan. 23 in Lubbock, Texas.