Otega Oweh hits game-winner for Sooners
If there’s one thing you’ve never had to question about Sooners guard Otega Oweh, it’s his physicality. He has been Big 12-ready since he was a freshman.
That strength was on full display as Oweh had a game-winning tip-in with 1.4 seconds left to give the Sooners a 72-70 victory against USC in the Rady Children’s Invitational on Friday afternoon in San Diego.
OU wanted to learn about itself during this event, and Porter Moser’s guys just went 2-0 against two quality Power Five teams in Iowa and No. 23 USC.
USC tied the game at 70-70 after two free throws with 29 seconds out. OU called timeout. It was a good look by Javian McCollum, but it was off, only for Oweh to come flying above to tip it home.
The Trojans were out of timeouts, and the desperation heave was off the mark. The kind of early-season statement the Sooners were hoping to make.
A tightly-contested game throughout, OU’s biggest lead was six points. USC’s largest margin was eight at 47-39 before the Sooners fought their way back in the second half.
The Sooners shot 50 percent from the field and were almost as good from 3-point territory. OU knocked down 10 of its 22 attempts, including a 4-for-4 effort from John Hugley. Hugley had 14 points off the bench.
McCollum scored 18 points in 36 minutes to lead the way. Oweh had 16 points and four rebounds. Milos Uzan had 10 points, four assists and four rebounds. McCollum was named the event’s MVP.
It will be very interesting to see if OU is a top-25 team when the polls come out Monday. The experience is there. The production is there. The pieces seem to be coming together for this group to make a nice little run.
OU is back in Norman on Thursday night against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
