SLIDESHOW: Sooners make a statement

John Shinn

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Oklahoma had a monkey on its back Monday night because it hadn’t beaten Texas in six tries. But the burden was nothing compared to the chip on the Sooners’ shoulder.

It had been four years since they had seriously contended for a Big 12 championship. Even the program’s best start in 23 years hadn’t dispelled some doubts.

“I think our guys felt a little disrespected,” OU coach Jeff Capel said. “It was something we talked about and something we used.”

No. 6 OU (16-1, 2-0 Big 12) earned a bit of respect it hadn’t been given Monday night, rolling through the 11th-ranked Longhorns 78-63 and looking every bit like the class of the Big 12 Conference.

The first “Big Monday” game of the season was supposed to be a battle of the league’s heavyweights. OU seized control early and never trailed.

It was one of those nights when the Sooners did everything they had to do to win, and a little bit more. They beat Texas to loose balls, outfought them for rebounds and ripped away a victory they had coveted for three years.

“This game meant a lot,” junior guard Tony Crocker said. “None of us had beaten them other than our seniors. It meant a lot to get this win.”

OU hadn’t done that since the first regular-season meeting of the 2005-2006 season. All that followed in the six games since were lopsided loses, including three by 10 or more points last season.

The Sooners played like a team possessed and energized by a energetic crowd of 12,423 that piled into Lloyd Noble Center frothing at the mouth to see the Sooners snap that losing skid.

They weren’t disappointed.

Blake Griffin scored 20 points and pulled down 10 rebounds, but it was no where near a one-man show. Crocker’s passion was evident, scoring 16 points and grabbing nine rebounds. Austin Johnson and Willie Warren both scored 15.

It was a breakout game for the Sooner backcourt and a breakout game for the Sooners.

The Longhorns (12-4, 1-1) cut their deficit to four points midway through the second half. Guard A.J. Abrams scored 22 points, but he had to take 27 shots to get there.

But OU quickly pushed its lead back to double digits with a 12-0 run and never looked back.

The Sooners were suffocating on the defensive end. Texas was 23-for-68 from the field (33.8 percent) a woeful 5-for-23 from 3-point range. Committing 13 turnovers didn’t help their cause either.

OU was just too much to handle.

“When they play like this, they’re a hard team to play,” Longhorn coach Rick Barnes said.

OU shot 50.9 percent (27-for-53) and didn’t settle for many outside shots. It only took 10 3-pointers, making four. It did it’s damage in the paint. Even with Texas tossing Damion James, Connor Atchley and Dexter Pittman and a bench full of post players around, OU still dominated the paint.

And had its most dominant performance of the season. Capel was ready to celebrate.

“We’re going to enjoy. I’m going to enjoy this one,” Capel said. “We’re 16-1.”

John Shinn

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jshinn@normantranscript.com