After a slow start against VCU, Oklahoma’s Buddy Hield found his rhythm in the second half to lift the Sooners past the Rams 85-81. Hield didn’t score for half of the opening period and only had seven points on 2-8 shooting as he headed into the locker room. Hield would score more than half of the Sooners 41 second-half points with 29 for a total of 36. His 13th 30+ point game, Hield is now tied with former Kansas State forward Michael Beasley for most in Big 12 History.
Hield wasn’t the only player with a big second half. In what was essentially a home game for the Sooners playing in Oklahoma City, VCU’s Melvin Johnson scored 18 of his 23 points for the Rams in the second half. The Rams lead 65-63 before Hield’s late heroics prevented VCU from making its first appearance in the Sweet 16 since their Cinderella run to the Final Four in 2011.
