In Oklahoma’s two losses last week, Trae Young had 12 turnovers against Kansas State and then struggled versus Oklahoma State when he took 39 shots. Young knew he had to make adjustments in order for OU to get a conference win, and Tuesday night he did just that.
Young did not attempt a 3-point shot in the first half, and OU went into the locker room leading 43-41. OU led by as much as 10 in the first half, but Svi Mykhailiuk kept the Jayhawks in the game with his 3-point shooting.
In the second half, KU took an early one-point lead off a 3 from Mykhailiuk and would go on to control the majority of the half. The game took a turn when Lon Kruger decided to make KU’s Udoka Azubuike beat them at the line. Kruger put Austin Freeman into the game and with 3:37 left, OU starting fouling Azubuike.
Azubuike missed all of his free throw attempts during this time, giving OU multiple opportunities to take the lead. After a Devonte’ Graham miss, Trae Young found Christian James for 3 with 1:09 left to give the Sooners an 82-80 advantage. After another miss from KU, Trae Young found fellow Freshman Brady Manek for 3, giving the Sooners an 85-80 lead, icing the game. Young found a way to lead his team to victory that didn’t involve him scoring 40+.
Oklahoma improves to 15-4 and moves into second place in the Big 12 at 5-3. The Sooners finish the week on the road vs. Alabama on Saturday (1:15 ESPN) in the Big 12/SEC Challenge.
After rattling off 5 straight Big 12 victories, Kansas falls to 16-4 and 6-2 in conference. KU still holds sole possession of the Big 12 and will finish out the week at home vs Texas A&M (3:30 ESPN.)