NORMAN, Okla. — Grant Sherfield posted a season-high 30 points and Oklahoma defeated No. 2 Alabama 93-69 in Saturday’s SEC/Big 12 Challenge.
Jalen Hill added a career-high 26 points in 9-for-11 shooting and helped second-year Oklahoma coach Porter Moser to his biggest win with the program. Tanner Groves had 14 points and 12 rebounds.
The Sooners (12-9) had lost three in a row but there were some signs of progress. They had three losses in January to top-25 teams with four points or fewer.
Two years ago, Oklahoma beat then-No. 9 Alabama in the SEC/Big 12 challenge. The Sooners provided another upset, shooting 58% from the field and setting a season-high tally.
Rylan Griffen led Alabama with 15 points and seven rebounds. Freshman Brandon Miller, who averaged 19.5 points per game, finished the tournament with 11 points in 4-for-14 shooting.
The Crimson Tide (18-3) had won nine straight games.
Oklahoma led 50-33 at halftime and it didn’t look like a fluke. Sherfield scored 18 points before the break and helped the Sooners shoot 68% from the field in the first 20 minutes. Hill added 13 points in 5-on-5 shooting. Halftime was interrupted when Hill scored on a spin move in the closing seconds and a technical foul was called on Miller.
Alabama cut their deficit to 11 in the second half, but Hill’s dunk on a quick break pushed Oklahoma’s lead back to 64-46 and got the crowd going. Sherfield’s crossover and fadeaway 3-pointers gave the Sooners a 78-53 lead.
BIG PICTURE
Alabama: Young Crimson Tide was sliced up by a team of veterans. The Crimson Tide lacked energy and never really challenged the Sooners. They only made 6 of 22 3-pointers and only had six assists.
Oklahoma: Sherfield was in crisis after scoring 10 of 34 field goals in Oklahoma’s three-part losing streak. He found his shot and found teammates, finishing with six assists to balance with the Sooners’ offense.
NEXT
Alabama: host Vanderbilt on Tuesday.
Oklahoma: host Oklahoma State on Thursday.
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