The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

Bahamian Buddy Hield had a career night on Monday but it wasn’t enough as the No.2 ranked Oklahoma Sooners fell victim to top-ranked Kansas Jayhawks 109-106 in triple overtime as they had their perfect winning season snapped at the Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas.

“I wished we had one more overtime,” said Hield, who posted 46 points but made two crucial turnovers in the final extra period and missed a potential game tying three-pointer at the buzzer. He also had eight rebounds, seven assists, five turnovers and four personal fouls on his ledger.

“I wish I had the three. I have more in the tank. It is what it is, we both had chances to win this game. In regulation, then in the second overtime, we had enough chances to win the game. We just fell short.”

To his credit, Hield was 13-of-23 from the field, 8-of-15 from behind the three-point arch and 12-of-14 from the free throw line to match Wayman Tisdale for the sixth-highest scoring game in Oklahoma’s history.

The Grand Bahamian senior also played a school record 54 minutes, surpassing the previous record of 51 that was set by Ryan Minor versus Nebraska in 1996.

“It was one of the best, no question. He just kept grinding in the face of a very good KU team that does very good offensively,” said Oklahoma’s head coach Lon Kruger on Hield’s performance. “I applaud Buddy for being persistent and staying after it and battling like he did.”

The highly acclaimed nationally televised game, which was tied 13 times and had just as many lead changes, saw Oklahoma pull away with a slim 44-40 advantage at the half. However, Kansas went on a 37-33 run in the second half to end the regulation even at 77-77.

Surprisingly, both teams scored nine points to keep it tied at the end of the first overtime (86-86) to force the second overtime. And they ended that session 8-8 for another tie at 94-94. In the third extra period, the Jayhawks outscored the Sooners 15-12 to seal the deal.

In the process, Kansas improved to 13-1 and 2-0 in the Big 12. Oklahoma dropped to 12-1 and 1-1 in the Big 12.

“We just have to go out there and grind it out and make plays,” Hield said. “Like coach said, everybody on both sides, in both jerseys, made plays at the right times. We were up four or five and KU made a run, and then vice versa. KU made that last run and prevailed at the end.”

In his role, Hield registered his seventh straight game of at least 20 points with a career-high 46, tied for the sixth-highest total in school history and the most by an OU player since Brent Price had a Lloyd Noble Center-record 56 against Loyola Marymount in the 1990-91 season.

The last Sooner to score at least 20 in seven straight contests was NBA player Corey Brewer in 1997-98. It was already Hield’s fifth game of at least 30 points this season (fourth in the last seven outings). The rest of the Big 12 has combined for six 30-point individual outings on the year.

Hield’s 46 points tied as the most by a Division I player this year. His performance marked just the 19th time in the last 20 years a player finished with at least 45 points and at least five assists and 46 points also now has Hield pegged with 1,708 career points, passing Alvan Adams (1,707) into eighth place on OU’s all-time scoring list.

ESPN colour commentator Dick Vitale called it the loudest game he ever attended, but he was even more impressed by the performance of Hield, occasionally stating that he’s definitely one of the best collegiate players he has ever seen perform and is looking for him to be a top prospect in the NBA Draft in June.

While Hield led three other Sooners’ players in double figures, the Jayhawks got 27 points from Perry Ellis with three other players in double figures as well.

• Hield and the Sooners are scheduled to be back in action against Kansas State 3:30pm Saturday.