The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
16-7,10-6Big 12
Oklahoma
14-9,9-8Big 12
No. 15/16 Men’s Basketball wins 69-65 at No. 16/15 Oklahoma
03.05.2021 | Men's Basketball
Sims records a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds.
NORMAN, Okla. — Senior forward Jericho Sims registered 16 points and 12 rebounds to lead No. 15/16 Texas (16-7, 10-6 Big 12) to a 69-65 win at No. 16/15 Oklahoma (14-9, 9-8 Big 12) on Thursday night at the Lloyd Noble Center. With the victory, the Longhorns secured a first-round bye in next week's Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship.
Sims tied his season highs in points and rebounds while hitting 8-of-10 field goals and adding two blocked shots in 33 minutes. Junior guard Andrew Jones tallied 16 points while converting 5-of-8 field goals, including 2-of-2 threes, and 4-of-4 free throws in 36 minutes. Junior guard Courtney Ramey posted 11 points while hitting 3-of-4 threes and registered a season-best nine rebounds in 36 minutes, and senior guard Jase Febres recorded a season-high 11 points in 18 minutes.
Defense proved to be the difference, as UT limited the Sooners to 65 points on 37.3-percent field goal shooting (22-59), including a 28.0-percent mark (7-25) from three-point range.
Leading 28-26 following an Elijah Harkless layup at the 8:11 mark, the Longhorns used a 16-5 run over the next seven minutes to build a 44-31 advantage after an Andrew Jones three-pointer with 1:17 remaining. Austin Reaves banked in a deep three at the buzzer to trim the margin to 44-34 at the break. Texas converted 60.7-percent (17-28) from the floor, including a 5-of-9 (.556) mark from three-point range, in the opening 20 minutes.
After a pair of free throws from Andrew Jones gave the Longhorns a 53-46 advantage at the 12:23 mark, the Sooners ran off eight straight points to take a 54-53 lead following a De'Vion Harmon dunk with 7:56 left. Ramey responded with back-to-back three-pointers to give Texas a 59-54 cushion at the 5:50 mark.
Oklahoma trimmed the deficit to two points on four occasions down the stretch, the last coming after an Austin Reaves layup to pull within 67-65 with 6.9 seconds left. Freshman forward Greg Brown converted a pair of free throws in a 1-and-1 pressure situation with 4.9 seconds remaining to seal the victory.
The Longhorns conclude the regular season when they travel to face TCU on Sunday, March 7. Tip is set for 6 p.m. CT at Schollmaier Arena, and the game will be streamed nationally by Big 12 Now/ESPN+.
Texas Basketball Postgame Notes
#15/16 Texas 69, #16/15 Oklahoma 65
March 4, 2021
Lloyd Noble Center (Norman, Okla.)
Attendance: 2,952
Team Notes
- The Longhorns improved to 8-2 in games away from Austin this year (5-2 in true road games, 3-0 in neutral-site contests).
- Texas won its fifth game this season against an AP ranked opponent (vs. No. 14 North Carolina, at No. 3 Kansas, at No. 14 West Virginia, No. 17 Kansas and at No. 16 Oklahoma).
- The Longhorns have won 21 of the last 33 meetings against Oklahoma. This marked the second straight year and third time in the last four seasons that Texas has won in Norman (2018, 2020 and 2021).
- UT held the Sooners to 65 points on 37.3-percent field goal shooting (22-59), including a 28.0-percent mark (7-25) from three-point range.
- Texas registered a 36-29 rebound margin.
- The Longhorns held the lead for a total time of 37:18.
- Texas converted 60.7-percent (17-28) from the floor, including 5-of-9 (.556) from three-point range, and hit 5-of-5 free throws in the opening 20 minutes while building a 44-34 lead at the half.
- Registered a team-best plus-minus total of plus-12 in 20 minutes
- Went a perfect 3-of-3 from the free throw line, hitting a pair of free throws with 4.9 seconds left to seal the victory
- Posted three blocked shots, one shy of his career high (4 vs. Texas Tech on Jan. 13)
- Set a season high in scoring (11 points), previous: 9 at Iowa State (Mar. 2)
- Tied his season high in three-point field goals made (3-7)
- Reached double figures in scoring for the first time this year (9 games) and 30th time in his career (100 games)
- Reached double figures in scoring (16 points) for the 17th time this year (22 games) and 61st time in his career (98 games)
- Registered 12 points (4-6 FG, 2-2 threes, 2-2 FT) in 18 minutes during the first half
- Reached double figures in scoring (11 points) for the 19th time this year (22 games) and 56th time in his career (90 games)
- Set a season high in rebounds (9), previous: 7, at Iowa State (Mar. 2)
- Recorded his second double-double (16 points, 12 rebounds) of the season (22 games) and sixth of his career (115 games)
- Tied his season high in points, also had 16 vs. Texas Tech (Jan. 13)
- Tied his season high in rebounds, also had 12 at Kansas (Jan. 2)
- Set a season high in field goals made (8-10), previous: 7 vs. West Virginia (Feb. 20)
- Tied his season high in blocks (2)
- His 33 minutes played were one shy of his season high (34 vs. Davidson on Nov. 30)
- Reached double figures in scoring for the 10th time this year and 31st time in his career
- Reached double figures in rebounds for the third time this season and 13th time in his career
- Registered 10 points (5-6 FG), 7 rebounds and 2 blocks in 15 minutes during the first half
