OSU-Texas environment reminds Serge Ibaka of home

By Anthony Slater – Aslater@opubco.com - @anthonyVslater

Kendrick Perkins (left) and Serge Ibaka must step up tonight if the Oklahoma City Thunder wants to even this series

A primetime matchup between Big 12 powerhouse that goes down to the wire in a rowdy environment.

Throw in a sideline pass, and Serge Ibaka could have done a lot worse for his first college football game.

Traveling with former Longhorn and current Thunder teammate Kevin Durant, Ibaka and some friends had an up close view of Texas’ 41-36 win over Oklahoma State in Stillwater on Saturday, strolling the UT sidelines during the dramatic game.

And for Ibaka, though it was his first time experiencing big-time football, the atmosphere made him feel at home, back in Congo watching his country’s biggest soccer games.

“It was a really tight game and it was fun. I really enjoyed it,” Ibaka said. “I almost feel like I was watching the soccer games back in Africa, kind of the same (type) stadium (atmosphere).”

And Ibaka picked up on the foreign game quickly, with help from Durant and others explaining any questions.

But would the 6-foot-10 Ibaka (who’s size, strength and jumping ability could translate to an unstoppable tight end) ever consider playing the high-c0ntact sport?

“Me?” Ibaka retorted. “Hell no.”