OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – Despite sitting out much of the first half with two fouls, Buddy Hield emerged to score 29 points in the second–including shooting a red-hot 5-of-8 from behind the arc–as second-seeded Oklahoma held off tenacious tenth-seeded VCU 85-81.
In addition to the Sporting News Player of the Year’s 36 points, the Sooners got 17 and 15 points, respectively, from guards Jordan Woodard and Isaiah Cousins.
The Rams stayed within striking distance all game–behind 23 points from Melvin Johnson and 22 from Jequan Lewis–before ultimately coming up short.
Tom McCarthy and P.J. Carlesimo called the action on Westwood One Sports.
