8 hours Ago By Associated Press
NORMAN, Okla. (AP) - Jeremiah Fears had 27 points and a career-high 10 assists, and Oklahoma defeated No. 21 Mississippi State 93-87 on Saturday to snap a five-game losing skid and revive its NCAA Tournament hopes.
Fears, an 18-year-old freshman, made 7 of 12 field goals and 11 of 14 free throws. It was one of his most efficient performances overall and his second-best scoring effort of the season.Jalon Moore scored 15 of his 18 points in the second half and Sam Godwin had 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Sooners (17-10, 4-10 Southeastern Conference).
Josh Hubbard scored 19 points and KeShawn Murphy added 16 for Mississippi State (19-8, 7-7), which was coming off wins against ranked opponents Mississippi and Texas A&M.Mississippi State led 37-34 at halftime, despite 15 points from Fears.Moore made a 3-pointer, then dunked on a fast break to put the Sooners up 44-41 early in the second half.
He hit another 3-pointer to push the margin to 53-48.Oklahoma’s Brycen Goodine hit a 3-pointer from the corner and was fouled with 4:50 remaining. He made the free throw to put the Sooners up 81-69.
Mississippi State kept scrapping. Claudell Harris Jr. made a contested corner 3 to cut Oklahoma's lead to 90-87 with 28 seconds remaining.
Mississippi State: The Bulldogs had 20 offensive rebounds and 21 second-chance points yet shot just 39.7% from the field.Oklahoma: The Sooners, who have struggled with mistakes this season, committed just 11 turnovers.
Moore collected a defensive rebound in traffic and was fouled with 11.3 seconds remaining. He made the first of two free throws to give Oklahoma a 93-87 lead.
Oklahoma shot 68% from the field in the second half and 52.7% overall.Mississippi State visits No.
4 Alabama on Tuesday night.Oklahoma hosts No. 17 Kentucky on Wednesday night.
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