No. 13 Oklahoma (10-0) defeated Oklahoma State (6-3) 80-65 in a Bedlam matchup Saturday night at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City.
This was the third straight win against the Cowboys after the Sooners swept the series last season. The victory also pushed Oklahoma’s undefeated streak to 10 games as they prepare for the Jumpman Invitational against Michigan.
Here are three takeaways from the Sooners’ victory:
Sam Godwin has big first half
Senior forward Sam Godwin has had a relatively quiet start to his final year in an OU uniform. That was not the case Saturday night against Oklahoma State.
Godwin, whose season-high to date was 11 points against Lindenwood in the season opener, scored 14 points on seven of nine shooting (77.8%) in the first half. The senior forward was responsible for the first six OU points and started the game six-for-six.
Godwin going to work 💼📺 » ESPNU | @SamGodwin__ pic.twitter.com/28qlecOO5W
— Oklahoma Basketball (@OU_MBBall) December 15, 2024
This was the first game that Godwin reached double-digit scoring since the matchup against Lindenwood. Godwin also pulled down two rebounds, registered one block and came away with three steals.
“We’re only playing this team once this year, so it was nice to go out and get a win,” Godwin said after the game. “It’s nice to keep this trophy in Norman too.”
“Sam was finishing well early,” head coach Porter Moser said after the win. “I’m very happy for him to have a game like this one against Oklahoma State. It meant a lot to him.”
Godwin finished with a career-high 20 points on 10 of 14 shooting to go along with 14 rebounds, two blocks and three steals.
Sooners defense shuts down Cowboys early
The OU defense was relentless in the first half.
The Sooners gave up a season-low 26 points and only allowed the Cowboys to shoot seven of 27 from the field (25.9%). 10 of the 26 Cowboy points came from the free throw line. OU also held OSU to two of 12 shooting from three.
OU forced 11 OSU turnovers and generated five steals. Those 11 Cowboy turnovers turned into 15 points for the Sooners, which included a Jeremiah Fears fast break dunk that brought the Sooner fans inside Paycom Center to their feet.
Fears with the flush 💥📺 » ESPNU | @jeremiahfears2 pic.twitter.com/UTwF59jIQk
— Oklahoma Basketball (@OU_MBBall) December 15, 2024
Kobe Elvis bounces back
OU’s game against Alcorn State was an anomaly for the graduate transfer guard as Elvis failed to score a single point against the Braves.
One game later, Elvis was able to return to the scoring column with a game that Sooner fans have become accustomed to. Against the Cowboys, Elvis scored 15 points on five of eight shooting. Elvis was five of seven from beyond the three-point line. The guard was the third-leading scorer for the Sooners, behind Godwin and freshman guard Jeremiah Fears, who scored 17 points.
“It was big for him to hit those shots and see them go in,” Moser said. “It was a good bounce back game for him.”
Elvis has been in double figures five times now this season, including a 26-point outing against Providence in the Battle 4 Atlantis and a 24-point performance against Stetson. On the season, Elvis has averaged 9.8 points to go along with 2.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists in 29.7 minutes.
Next, the Sooners will take on No. 14 Michigan (8-2) in the Jumpman Invitational at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 18 in Charlotte, North Carolina.