West Virginia guard Tarik Phillip (12) goes up for a shot in front of Oklahoma forward Dante Buford (21) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Jan. 16, 2016.
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Jordan Woodard missed a runner as the clock ticked toward the buzzer, but big man Khadeem Lattin soared over the Mountaineers and tipped it in.
West Virginia entered the day alone in first place in the Big 12. The Sooners had four 3-pointers after offensive rebounds, but nothing was more significant than Lattin’s score. “We’ve just got to somehow start making free throws”. I just tried to stay in the moment and make sure they didn’t get a good shot off. But hats off to him because that was an all effort kind of play and saved us from overtime tonight.
If the season ended today, Hield would be the only player in Big 12 history to average at least 25 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game.
No. 7 Xavier 74, Marquette 66: Trevon Bluiett had 18 points for and Xavier (16-1, 4-1 Big East).
No. 17 IOWA ST. 76, KANSAS ST. 63: In Manhattan, Kansas, Monte Morris scored 15 of his 19 points in the second half, Gorges Niang continued his form at Bramlage Coliseum with 15 points, and the Cyclones (13-4, 2-3 Big 12) kept the Wildcats (11-6, 1-4) at arm’s length. “It’s a hell of a lot easier to get second-chance points when he’s not on the floor”.
Oklahoma State 73, Oklahoma 42: Brittney Martin scored 19 points, surpassing 1,500 for her career, and added 14 rebounds to lead Oklahoma State (13-4, 3-3 Big 12) to a dominating victory over the No. 14 Sooners (12-4, 3-2). Southern Cal is now 15-3 on the season.
Hield has scored 30 or more points six times in the Sooners 16 games this season and 20 or more in 13 of the 16.
Saint Mary’s 82, Pacific 73: Devon Brookshire (22 points, 16 rebounds) and Lauren Nicholson (22 points, 10 rebounds) each recorded double-doubles as the visiting Gaels (14-4, 5-2 WCC) beat the Tigers (9-9, 2-5). OU did turn it over 18 times in the game, but WVU wasn’t far behind with 16 turnovers of their own. Texas A&M, 12. Michigan State, 13.
The toll from playing 39 minutes was more evident than usual on everybody’s All-American Buddy Hield, because every one of those 39 minutes involved working against West Virginia defenders with no let-up. Maryland rounds out the Top 5, coming in at No. 5.
Diamond Stone scored 15 points for the Terrapins (16-2, 5-1), who moved on from a defeat at MI by reaching the 100-point mark for the first time since 2012.
Turnovers: 18 (Lattin 4, Spangler 3, Cousins 3, Hield 3, Woodard 2, Walker, James).
Oklahoma plays at No. 17 Iowa State on Monday. TCU is 9-8 and 1-4. Despite a couple of bad losses, these teams are contributing to the Big 12’s strength as a conference. Kodi Justice had 17 points to lead the Sun Devils (11-7, 1-4). Miami (13-3, 2-2) has lost two straight. Smith, 25, died Tuesday after a two-year battle with cancer.
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Gonzaga lost 69-68 to BYU and beat San Diego last week, dropping out from No. 25. Ryan Edwards scored 10 points. This time he hoisted only 11, his fewest in the past 22 games.
