NORMAN —

Xzayvier Brown set the tone early with a four-point play from beyond the arc. His performance was soon matched by Derrion Reid and Tae Davis, who each hit a three in the opening minutes to ignite the Oklahoma Sooners’ (11-3, 1-0) offensive surge. However, the Ole Miss Rebels (8-6, 0-1) quickly joined the party, hitting five of their first six three-point attempts. Fortunately for the Sooners, their defense made a late but timely appearance during the first half to regain control.

Despite the Rebels’ hot shooting and a standout performance from Patton Pinkins (who scored a game-high 25 points on 9-11 shooting), the Sooners managed to pull off an 86-70 victory. Brown led the charge in the second half, matching Pinkins’ scoring output. The junior guard from Philadelphia started the second half with two quick threes and never looked back, scoring 19 of his 23 points in the final half. His ability to score in the Sooner’s half-court attack allowed Oklahoma to maintain their halftime lead and secure the win.

Key Takeaways from the Game

Oh Perimeter Defense, Where Art Thou?

Ole Miss began the game with a blistering start, hitting five of their first six three-point attempts. The Sooners struggled to contain the Rebels’ shooting, as many of the shots came on clean looks.

Things improved in the middle of the first half when Oklahoma’s defense found some momentum. They forced Ole Miss into an 11-minute scoreless drought. However, the Sooners became sloppy in the closing minutes of the first half, allowing the Rebels to hit four of their final five shots, including two from beyond the arc.

In the second half, Ole Miss again found open looks from three, and Oklahoma allowed 10 made threes. But the Sooners made a strong defensive stand in the late stages of the second half, causing the Rebels’ shooting to look less effective.

While the Rebels aren’t particularly strong in many areas, Oklahoma started their conference play with a win. However, the perimeter defense will need to review film before their next game against Mississippi State on the road.

Wague Great on the Boards

Mo Wague had a dominant performance on the glass in his first conference game. He grabbed 10 rebounds and recorded two blocks in the first half, helping keep the Rebels at bay.

Wague’s effectiveness on the boards was likely due to his ability to stay out of foul trouble. He only picked up one foul in the first half. His activity in the paint highlighted Oklahoma’s dominance in the paint, where they held a 20-6 scoring edge. The Sooners extended that advantage in the second half, outscoring the Rebels 32-18 in the paint.

New Russian big man Kirill Elatontsev saw early action, checking in for Wague at the 14:55 mark in the first half. Kai Rogers served as the reserve big man in the second half.

This Team Can Score

It’s no secret that the strength of this team lies in its offense, but it was encouraging to see them match the Rebels’ hot-shooting streaks in conference play.

Oklahoma shot over 50% from the field throughout the game, finishing at exactly 50%. They were able to keep up with Ole Miss’ shooting with their own made shots.

Kuol Atak provided a spark in the first half, with a dunk followed by a three-pointer after a steal from Wague. Atak finished with 14 points on 5-10 shooting, including 4-9 from three.

Brown, especially in the second half, showcased his ability to score with made threes and drives to the basket. He led the Sooners with 23 points and appeared calm and in control with the ball in his hands.

Overall, the offensive performance was impressive. If the team struggles on defense, they can rely on their ability to match opponents in scoring. This team has the firepower to do just that.

What’s Next for the Sooners

The Sooners are set to face Mississippi State on Tuesday, Jan. 6, in Starkville, MS. The game is scheduled for 6 p.m.

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