Lexy Keys

Senior guard Lexy Keys during the game against Texas on Feb 28.

 Audrey Quan/OU Daily

No. 20 Oklahoma (21-7, 15-2 Big 12) upset No. 3 Texas (26-4, 13-4) 71-70 to clinch a second consecutive Big 12 regular season title at the Lloyd Noble Center in Norman on Wednesday.

Junior guard Payton Verhulst and senior guard Lexy Keys scored a combined 34 points in OU's come from behind victory. 

Here are three takeaways from the Sooners’ win:

OU recovers and responds in first half

Oklahoma had to overcome multiple double digit Longhorn leads during its win.

In the first quarter, Texas shot 50% and buried the Sooners with a 21-10 start to the game.

The Sooners only made two baskets in the first quarter, and their other five points came from the free throw line. They shot just 11% from the floor and turned over the ball six times.

The second quarter started the same. However, Verhulst scored 10 points in the bottom of the quarter to build a 16-3 run in the last three minutes.

The Sooners shaved down a once 15-point deficit and would start the third quarter down 39-38. 

Down to the wire

In the second half, both teams had to make baskets and convert on big plays to stay in the game.

But it was Oklahoma who was able to finish on top. Texas came out after halftime and went on an early 14-3 run in the third quarter. A layup from senior guard Lexy Keys at the 4:04 mark sparked a 13-6 run that cut the Longhorns's lead to 60-54 heading into the third quarter.

The Sooners kept the game neck-and-neck throughout the fourth quarter, but Texas maintained a steady lead thanks to 16-point effort from freshman forward Madison Booker. The Sooners’ duo, composed of Verhulst and Keys, scored a combined 12 points to make it a one-point game with under a minute left in the fourth.

Both teams fought aggressively for the ball, frantically trying to find the game-winning bucket with seconds remaining.

Keys would be the difference, and after getting the ball on the left wing, she launched a three-pointer to give OU a 71-70 lead with four seconds left. Texas failed to score on its last possession.

WATCH: Lexy Keys’ 3-pointer to give the #Oklahoma #Sooners the win over Texas 71-70 and their second consecutive Big 12 title

The Sooners go back-to-back

After sharing the Big 12 regular season title with Texas during the 2022-23 season, the Sooners had one goal heading into Wednesday night.

OU wanted to be able to say the league was its own.

With the Sooners' win, they notched their second consecutive Big 12 regular season title. 

Next, Oklahoma plays its last regular season match against Kansas (17-11, 10-7 Big 12) 4 p.m. Saturday in Lawrence on ESPN+.

This story was edited by Gracie Rawlings. 

OU Daily women's basketball beat reporter Ben Suey gives his top three takeaways from the #Oklahoma #Sooners win over No. 3 Texas Wednesday evening, earning them their second consecutive Big 12 title.

Filmed by Kaly Phan

Edited by Kaly Phan

Thumbnail by Audrey Quan

Check out his takeaways at length from Saturday's game on our website: https://www.oudaily.com/sports/ou-basketball-big-12-title-lexy-keys/article_32bdb234-d6a3-11ee-8a1c-7fcb2bf466b4.html

Check out Lexy Keys' go-ahead 3-pointer from our view: https://youtube.com/shorts/LVGgioIN4MQ?si=GwqAQ2yjesqa9Q3i

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/dread-pitt/distrust

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