James scores 21, leads Oklahoma past Vanderbilt 86-55
NORMAN, Okla. (AP) There was no sluggish start or big deficit for Oklahoma to overcome this time.
Christian James scored 21 points to help the Sooners roll past Vanderbilt 86-55 in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge.
Oklahoma rallied from a 19-point deficit to beat Oklahoma State 70-61 on Wednesday. Determined to avoid a similar situation against Vanderbilt, the Sooners took control with a 19-0 run over a 5:35 stretch in the first half to take a 33-16 lead, and the rout was on.
''We didn't come out with the start that we wanted to at Oklahoma State,'' James said. ''We just wanted to regroup and play well as a team.''
Brady Manek scored 16 points and Rashard Odomes added 14 for the Sooners (15-5), who won their second straight since falling out of the Top 25 earlier in the week. Oklahoma shot 55 percent from the field and posted its largest victory margin of the season.
Vanderbilt helped the Sooners by making mistakes.
''The first 10-12 minutes, I thought we responded well,'' Vanderbilt coach Bryce Drew said. ''After that, we couldn't guard them one on one and we couldn't hang onto the ball enough to keep it close.''
Saben Lee matched a career high with 24 points for Vanderbilt (9-10), which lost its seventh straight.
The Commodores took No. 1 Tennessee to overtime on Wednesday before losing 88-83. Drew wasn't sure if there was a letdown.
''You prepare all you can to get them motivated, fired up,'' he said. ''At the end of the day, we had some juice at times. Other times, we just did not have the same juice that we had a few days ago.''
The Sooners cooled off a bit after their early surge, but still led 41-23 at the break.
Oklahoma got cranked up again in the second half. A 3-pointer by James put the Sooners up 56-30 with 14:51 to play.
''I thought they came out of the locker room with the right attitude, playing each possession, continuing to score,'' Oklahoma coach Lon Kruger said. ''I think that kept the energy level up. Over time, I thought pretty we were solid defensively as well.''
The Sooners shot 69 percent in the second half to pull away, and now they can take momentum back into Big 12 play.
''It's a confidence booster,'' James said. ''When we play together as a team, it showed defensively and offensively. We moved the ball great. We got stops and got out and ran. We ran in transition. We haven't really done that in a while. I think we did a great job of that today, getting out running lanes and moving the ball.''
BIG PICTURE
Vanderbilt: The Commodores looked spent after their close call against Tennessee. They shot just 37 percent from the field and committed 22 turnovers. No one other than Lee scored in double figures.
Oklahoma: The Sooners were in danger of having their season fall off the rails after falling behind against Oklahoma State. They got through two games that would have been considered bad losses and now can make their push towards an NCAA Tournament bid. They could work their way back into the Top 25 next week.
STAT LINES
Oklahoma's Odomes scored in double figures for the fourth straight game after doing so in just three games all season prior to his current stretch. He is averaging 12.3 points and shooting 73.3 percent (22 for 30) from the field during the run.
BIENIEMY'S IMPACT
Oklahoma point guard Jamal Bieniemy did not score, but he had five rebounds, seven assists and four steals in 29 minutes.
''I thought he moved the ball, controlled the tempo. I thought we had the opportunity in transition, got some steals defensively. He's just playing very well.''
UP NEXT
Vanderbilt hosts No. 8 Kentucky on Tuesday.
Oklahoma hosts Baylor on Monday.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Â | Jumpball received by Oklahoma | Â | |
19:43 | +2 | Brady Manek made layup, assist by Jamal Bieniemy | 0-2 | |
19:21 | Â | Turnover on Yanni Wetzell | Â | |
19:12 | +2 | Rashard Odomes made layup | 0-4 | |
18:46 | +3 | Aaron Nesmith made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Saben Lee | 3-4 | |
18:24 | +3 | Christian James made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Jamal Bieniemy | 3-7 | |
17:57 | Â | Lost ball turnover on Simi Shittu, stolen by Christian James | Â | |
17:53 | Â | Brady Manek missed 3-pt. jump shot | Â | |
17:51 | Â | Defensive rebound by Aaron Nesmith | Â | |
17:34 | Â | Aaron Nesmith missed layup | Â | |
17:32 | Â | Defensive rebound by Oklahoma | Â | |
17:34 | Â | Personal foul on Yanni Wetzell | Â | |
17:24 | Â | Turnover on Jamal Bieniemy | Â | |
17:07 | Â | Lost ball turnover on Saben Lee, stolen by Jamal Bieniemy | Â | |
17:01 | Â | Kristian Doolittle missed layup | Â | |
16:59 | Â | Defensive rebound by Simi Shittu | Â | |
16:53 | +2 | Saben Lee made layup | 5-7 | |
16:33 | +3 | Christian James made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Jamal Bieniemy | 5-10 | |
15:59 | Â | Turnover on Simi Shittu | Â | |
15:50 | Â | Bad pass turnover on Kristian Doolittle, stolen by Aaron Nesmith | Â | |
15:18 | +2 | Clevon Brown made jump shot | 7-10 | |
15:12 | Â | Christian James missed 3-pt. jump shot | Â | |
15:10 | Â | Defensive rebound by Matt Ryan | Â | |
15:03 | +2 | Matt Ryan made floating jump shot, assist by Saben Lee | 9-10 | |
14:42 | Â | Personal foul on Clevon Brown | Â | |
14:21 | Â | Shot clock violation turnover on Oklahoma | Â | |
14:00 | Â | Clevon Brown missed finger-roll layup | Â | |
13:58 | Â | Defensive rebound by Matt Freeman | Â | |
13:48 | Â | Aaron Calixte missed 3-pt. jump shot, blocked by Saben Lee | Â | |
13:46 | Â | Offensive rebound by Oklahoma | Â | |
13:30 | +2 | Aaron Calixte made driving layup | 9-12 | |
13:17 | +2 | Saben Lee made driving layup | 11-12 | |
12:57 | +2 | Christian James made driving layup | 11-14 | |
12:23 | +3 | Matt Ryan made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Clevon Brown | 14-14 | |
12:09 | Â | Bad pass turnover on Miles Reynolds, stolen by Yanni Wetzell | Â | |
11:59 | +2 | Yanni Wetzell made driving layup | 16-14 | |
11:50 | +3 | Aaron Calixte made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Christian James | 16-17 | |
11:28 | Â | Yanni Wetzell missed layup, blocked by Matt Freeman | Â | |
11:26 | Â | Defensive rebound by Aaron Calixte | Â | |
11:15 | Â | Miles Reynolds missed layup, blocked by Clevon Brown | Â | |
11:13 | Â | Defensive rebound by Saben Lee | Â | |
11:17 | Â | Personal foul on Aaron Calixte | Â | |
11:00 | Â | Simi Shittu missed hook shot | Â | |
10:58 | Â | Defensive rebound by Brady Manek | Â | |
10:41 | +2 | Rashard Odomes made driving layup | 16-19 | |
10:40 | Â | Shooting foul on Clevon Brown | Â | |
10:40 | Â | Rashard Odomes missed free throw | Â | |
10:40 | Â | Defensive rebound by Simi Shittu | Â | |
10:13 | Â | Simi Shittu missed 3-pt. jump shot | Â | |
10:11 | Â | Offensive rebound by Maxwell Evans | Â | |
10:05 | Â | Joe Toye missed 3-pt. jump shot | Â | |
10:03 | Â | Offensive rebound by Clevon Brown | Â | |
9:57 | Â | Bad pass turnover on Joe Toye, stolen by Kristian Doolittle | Â | |
9:48 | Â | Brady Manek missed 3-pt. jump shot | Â | |
9:46 | Â | Defensive rebound by Joe Toye | Â | |
9:39 | Â | Matt Ryan missed 3-pt. jump shot | Â | |
9:37 | Â | Defensive rebound by Kristian Doolittle | Â | |
9:26 | +2 | Rashard Odomes made finger-roll layup | 16-21 | |
9:08 | Â | Matt Ryan missed driving layup | Â | |
9:06 | Â | Defensive rebound by Rashard Odomes | Â | |
9:01 | Â | Shooting foul on Clevon Brown | Â | |
9:01 | +1 | Brady Manek made 1st of 2 free throws | 16-22 | |
9:01 | +1 | Brady Manek made 2nd of 2 free throws | 16-23 | |
8:49 | Â | Jumpball received by Vanderbilt | Â | |
8:44 | Â | Aaron Nesmith missed layup | Â | |
8:42 | Â | Offensive rebound by Matthew Moyer | Â | |
8:41 | Â | Matthew Moyer missed tip-in | Â | |
8:39 | Â | Defensive rebound by Oklahoma | Â | |
8:31 | Â | Shooting foul on Aaron Nesmith | Â | |
8:30 | +1 | Kristian Doolittle made 1st of 2 free throws | 16-24 | |
8:30 | +1 | Kristian Doolittle made 2nd of 2 free throws | 16-25 | |
8:21 | Â | Bad pass turnover on Yanni Wetzell, stolen by Jamal Bieniemy | Â | |
8:13 | Â | Rashard Odomes missed layup | Â | |
8:12 | Â | Offensive rebound by Rashard Odomes | Â | |
8:12 | +2 | Rashard Odomes made dunk | 16-27 | |
7:55 | Â | Yanni Wetzell missed hook shot | Â | |
7:53 | Â | Offensive rebound by Matt Ryan | Â | |
7:37 | Â | Lost ball turnover on Aaron Nesmith, stolen by Jamal Bieniemy | Â | |
7:22 | Â | Christian James missed 3-pt. jump shot | Â | |
7:20 | Â | Offensive rebound by Brady Manek | Â | |
7:18 | Â | Brady Manek missed tip-in | Â | |
7:18 | Â | Offensive rebound by Oklahoma | Â | |
7:09 | +3 | Brady Manek made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Jamal Bieniemy | 16-30 | |
6:55 | Â | Saben Lee missed layup | Â | |
6:53 | Â | Defensive rebound by Rashard Odomes | Â | |
6:46 | +3 | Brady Manek made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Rashard Odomes | 16-33 | |
6:19 | +2 | Matt Ryan made layup, assist by Simi Shittu | 18-33 | |
6:19 | Â | Shooting foul on Rashard Odomes | Â | |
6:19 | Â | Matt Ryan missed free throw | Â | |
6:19 | Â | Defensive rebound by Jamuni McNeace | Â | |
6:06 | +2 | Christian James made driving layup | 18-35 | |
5:43 | +2 | Saben Lee made driving layup | 20-35 | |
5:22 | +2 | Rashard Odomes made floating jump shot | 20-37 | |
5:04 | Â | Bad pass turnover on Saben Lee, stolen by Rashard Odomes | Â | |
4:54 | Â | Christian James missed 3-pt. jump shot | Â | |
4:52 | Â | Defensive rebound by Matt Ryan | Â | |
4:43 | Â | Matt Ryan missed jump shot | Â | |
4:41 | Â | Defensive rebound by Jamal Bieniemy | Â | |
4:33 | Â | Lost ball turnover on Brady Manek, stolen by Saben Lee | Â | |
4:05 | Â | Shot clock violation turnover on Vanderbilt | Â | |
3:55 | Â | Kristian Doolittle missed layup | Â | |
3:53 | Â | Defensive rebound by Matt Ryan | Â | |
3:45 | Â | Yanni Wetzell missed layup | Â | |
3:43 | Â | Defensive rebound by Kristian Doolittle | Â | |
3:27 | Â | Christian James missed 3-pt. jump shot | Â | |
3:25 | Â | Defensive rebound by Simi Shittu | Â | |
3:20 | Â | Lost ball turnover on Simi Shittu, stolen by Christian James | Â | |
3:15 | Â | Aaron Calixte missed layup | Â | |
3:13 | Â | Offensive rebound by Christian James | Â | |
3:09 | +2 | Christian James made tip-in | 20-39 | |
3:02 | Â | Bad pass turnover on Saben Lee, stolen by Jamuni McNeace | Â | |
2:58 | Â | Jamuni McNeace missed dunk | Â | |
2:56 | Â | Defensive rebound by Simi Shittu | Â | |
2:53 | Â | Out of bounds turnover on Simi Shittu | Â | |
2:38 | Â | Jamuni McNeace missed hook shot | Â | |
2:36 | Â | Offensive rebound by Oklahoma | Â | |
2:20 | +2 | Kristian Doolittle made alley-oop shot, assist by Aaron Calixte | 20-41 | |
2:07 | Â | Offensive foul on Yanni Wetzell | Â | |
2:07 | Â | Turnover on Yanni Wetzell | Â | |
1:58 | Â | Christian James missed 3-pt. jump shot | Â | |
1:56 | Â | Defensive rebound by Yanni Wetzell | Â | |
1:49 | Â | Matthew Moyer missed layup | Â | |
1:47 | Â | Offensive rebound by Matt Ryan | Â | |
1:43 | Â | Turnover on Joe Toye | Â | |
1:38 | Â | Kristian Doolittle missed jump shot | Â | |
1:36 | Â | Defensive rebound by Aaron Nesmith | Â | |
1:20 | Â | Yanni Wetzell missed 3-pt. jump shot | Â | |
1:18 | Â | Defensive rebound by Jamuni McNeace | Â | |
1:00 | Â | Christian James missed jump shot | Â | |
58.0 | Â | Defensive rebound by Aaron Nesmith | Â | |
52.0 | Â | Personal foul on Kristian Doolittle | Â | |
52.0 | Â | Personal foul on Aaron Calixte | Â | |
52.0 | +3 | Saben Lee made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Matt Ryan | 23-41 | |
23.0 | Â | Matt Freeman missed 3-pt. jump shot | Â | |
21.0 | Â | Offensive rebound by Christian James | Â | |
12.0 | Â | Matt Freeman missed 3-pt. jump shot | Â | |
10.0 | Â | Defensive rebound by Matthew Moyer | Â | |
1.0 | Â | Matthew Moyer missed 3-pt. jump shot | Â | |
0.0 | Â | Defensive rebound by Oklahoma | Â | |
0.0 | Â | End of period | Â |