Oklahoma basketball notebook: Buddy Hield gets first start in Sooners' win

“We moved a lot sharper,” Oklahoma coach Lon Kruger said. “We came off screens sharper. Shot with better rhythm and had better transition opportunities too.”

THE DUNKING TECHNICAL

With 4:39 remaining in the first half, M'Baye gave the Sooners their second lead of the game, and after that OU never trailed.

M'Baye gifted that lead with a monster dunk by finishing off Hield's miss on a contested shot. . However, a technical was called on M'Baye for pulling himself up on the rim after the dunk.

“He missed his two shots,” M'Baye said of the ensuing free throws by Ohio's Walter Offutt. “So I'm OK with it.”

FAST-BREAK POINTS

Ohio returned all five starters from a team that advanced to the Sweet Sixteen last season. The Bobcats beat South Florida and Michigan before losing to North Carolina in the Sweet Sixteen.

Ohio's bench outscored Oklahoma 23-14. It was just the third time in 11 games that OU's bench has been outscored.