ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Jordan Woodard scored 22 points and Buddy Hield had 17 points and 10 rebounds to lead the second-seeded Oklahoma Sooners to a 77-63 win over third-seeded and cold-shooting Texas A&M in the NCAA West Regional on Thursday.
The Sooners (28-7) advanced to the Elite Eight for the first time since 2009. They’ll play Saturday against the Duke-Oregon winner.
The Sooners blew open a close game by going on a 19-4 run during the last 7:42 of the first half to take a 45-26 lead. The Sooners forced the Aggies into bad shots and turnovers, and Woodard was the catalyst on the offensive end.
Tyler Davis scored 17 for A&M (28-9), which reached the Sweet 16 with a thrilling double-overtime victory against Northern Iowa after rallying from 12 points down in the final 44 seconds of regulation.
Texas A&M Basketball
NCAA Tournament – West Region Sweet 16 ? Postgame Notes
#2 Oklahoma 77, #3 Texas A&M 63
March 24, 2016 ? Honda Center (Anaheim, Calif.)
RECORDS & SERIES NOTES
? Texas A&M concluded one of the best seasons in program history at 28-9 … the Aggies won their first-ever SEC championship, the first regular-season conference title for the program since 1986 … the 28 wins are a school record (previous best 27, 2006-07).
? Oklahoma won its third straight against Texas A&M and now leads the all-time series, which dates back to 1960, 32-10.
? Texas A&M suffered its first loss this season in five games against teams from the Big 12 … the Aggies have wins this year over Baylor, Texas, Iowa State and Kansas State … OU had played one other SEC school in 2015-16, a 77-75 win at LSU on Jan. 30.
NCAA TOURNAMENT NOTES
? A&M (28-9) matched the program’s best showing ever in the NCAA Tournament by advancing to the Sweet Sixteen for the third time in school history (1980, 2007).
? Texas A&M is now 11-14 all time in 13 trips to the NCAA Tournament.
? Texas A&M is now 4-8 in NCAA games as the lower seed.
? Billy Kennedy is 3-3 all time in NCAA Tournament games.
TEAM NOTES
? Texas A&M was held without a field goal for a 7-minute, 22-second stretch of the first half … the Aggies were outscored in that span 16-2 and missed 10 consecutive shots.
? Texas A&M trailed at the half for just the sixth time all season (45-26) … the 19-point deficit is the largest the Aggies have faced at the break this year (down 14 at Arizona State) … it was the second-most first-half points by an A&M opponent this year (46, Tennessee).
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
? Texas A&M head coach Billy Kennedy ends his fifth season at Texas A&M with a 99-70 record … he is 310-249 in 18 seasons as head coach … he is the second-winningest coach (by victories) in school history, trailing only the legendary Shelby Metcalf (438 in 26 ½ seasons).
? Senior Alex Caruso ends his career as the only SEC player ever to score 1,000 points (1,091) with at least 500 rebounds (513), 600 assists (649), 250 steals (276) and 50 blocks (59) … The College Station native leaves his mark on the Aggie basketball record book as the all-time leader in both assists and steals.
? Senior Danuel House closes his two-year Aggie career with 947 points in the maroon and white (15.3 avg) … House ends his collegiate career with 1,683 points (736 at Houston, 947 at A&M).
? Senior Jalen Jones closes his two-year Aggie career with 930 points (14.5 avg) … Jones ends his collegiate career with 1,684 points (705 at SMU, 930 at A&M).
? senior Anthony Collins, who joined the program after three years at USF, finished his collegiate career with 987 career points (821 at USF, 104 at A&M).
? Freshman Tyler Davis scored 17 points, one shy of his career high … he hit double figures in scoring for the 21st time this year, third straight game and ninth time in the last 12 games.
? Senior Jalen Jones registered a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds (5th season, 7thA&M career, 16th overall career).
? Seniors Jalen Jones and Danuel House will go down as the fifth highest scoring tandem in school history … the duo combined for 1,067 points on the year (House 563, Jones 504).
Story courtesy of Texas A&M Athletics