The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Oklahoma
Sooners outlast Men's Basketball in Norman
01.22.2005 | Men's Basketball
NORMAN, Okla. (AP) -- Kevin Bookout had 18 points and 13 rebounds, Lawrence McKenzie scored 15 and No. 21 Oklahoma beat 11th-ranked Texas 64-60 Saturday for its ninth straight win.
Oklahoma outmuscled the Longhorns, who were in their first game without leading scorer and rebounder P.J. Tucker, ruled academically ineligible earlier in the week.
The Sooners, who trailed most of the game, got some breathing room after a wild three-point play by Bookout and a 3-pointer by Drew Lavender in the final 2 minutes.
Bookout found himself triple-teamed in the lane and tossed the ball toward the rim, where it bounced in. His ensuing free throw gave Oklahoma a 59-55 lead. After two free throws by Sydmill Harris, a guard who started in place of Tucker, the 5-foot-7 Lavender hit a 3-pointer from the left wing over the outstretched arm of a Texas defender to put Oklahoma up by five.
Brad Buckman hit one of two free throws on the other end, and Daniel Gibson pulled the Longhorns within 62-60 after Terrell Everett missed the front end of consecutive one-and-one free-throw situations.
McKenzie hit two free throws with 7.7 seconds left to seal the win for Oklahoma (15-2, 4-0 Big 12). Taj Gray added 12 points for the Sooners before fouling out with 8:35 to play.
Gibson had 18 points to lead Texas (15-3, 3-2), Jason Klotz scored 14 and Buckman added 12. Lavender finished with 11 for Oklahoma, which had lost five straight in the Red River rivalry.
The Sooners, who outrebounded Texas 42-33, took their largest lead of the second half with a 6-0 run fueled by reserve Johnnie Gilbert. Gilbert was there for the putback when McKenzie missed a fast-break layup, then swatted a Texas shot to set up Everett's layup on the following possession.
McKenzie hit two free throws to give Oklahoma a 48-43 lead, but Texas quickly pulled within a point following four straight free throws from Gibson. Gibson went to the line after Gray, Oklahoma's leading scorer and rebounder, came from behind on a fast break and picked up his fourth foul and a technical that disqualified him from the game.
Texas led briefly 49-48 after two free throws from Buckman, but McKenzie hit a 3-pointer from the right wing to put Oklahoma ahead 56-53, and the Sooners didn't trail again.
Forward LaMarcus Aldridge, who started the Longhorns' first 16 games, missed his second straight game with a hip injury. He sat in street clothes at the end of the Texas bench.
