Oklahoma junior guard and Big 12 Player of the Year Buddy Hield leads all scorers with 11 points, and MSU senior guard Travis Trice follows with 10 points. Senior forward Branden Dawson gathered nine rebounds.

The fast pace of the game started just as MSU expected, but it was Oklahoma that ran things early. An MSU turnover gave Oklahoma sophomore guard Jordan Woodard the game’s first score and following a three from Hield and another Woodard bucket, the Sooners jumped to a 7-2 lead.

MSU appeared to get things going but following a floater from Trice, Oklahoma’s track meet fast break led to a quick answer from senior forward TaShawn Thomas.

The Sooners took an 18-8 lead with a dunk, and whether it was a missed shot or a turnover, the Spartans just couldn’t find their footing offensively.

Hield played like the conference player of the year he is, draining a three at the 9:00 mark, putting his team up 23-13.

On the following possession, MSU scrapped for four offensive rebounds but ultimately, came away with just one free throw from freshman forward Marvin Clark. With the offense struggling, Trice did his best to once again shoulder the load. He scored five of seven MSU points and cut Oklahoma’s lead to 25-21, breathing life back into his team.

Oklahoma answered with six straight points, the final two of which came on a Hield blow-by of redshirt junior forward Colby Wollenman. Because Schilling and Costello picked up two fouls, Wollenman needed to take their place but struggled in his brief action.

Junior guards Denzel Valentine and Bryn Forbes tripled on back-to-back scores, trimming the Sooner lead to 31-27 at the 2:36 mark.