NORMAN, Okla. – Oklahoma used an 18-0 run early in the game to pull away from UTSA men's basketball in the first half and post a 105-66 win over the Roadrunners, on Thursday night at the Lloyd Noble Center.
UTSA (1-2) met Oklahoma (1-0) in the season opener for the Sooners, which was originally slated for Nov. 25 but was postponed due to COVID-19 concerns in the OU program.
The Sooners opened up the game on a 6-0 run before UTSA answered with seven straight points to take its lone lead of the game. OU then ripped off an 18-0 run to take a 25-7 lead to take a commanding early lead, taking the advantage over 30 in the opening minutes of the final period.
The Roadrunners were led by senior guard Jhivvan Jackson, who ranked as the nation's No. 2 scorer as a junior with a Conference USA record 26.8 points per game as a junior. Jackson finished with 28 points on 10 of 21 shooting, including four 3-pointers, adding four rebounds and two assists in 32 minutes.
UTSA also got nine points from Keaton Wallace and a four-point, seven-rebound game from center Jacob Germany. A total of 11 Roadrunners scored in the game.
The Sooners got a strong outing from senior forward Brady Manek, a member of the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award Watch List. Manek had 29 points and five rebounds, connecting on 8 of 11 attempts from 3-point range.
UTSA shot 34 percent in the game, including an 8 of 30 mark from 3-point range. The Sooners shot 49 percent in the win, connecting on 17 of 34 3-point attempts, owning a 45-20 margin in bench points and a 30-14 margin in points in the paint.
UTSA will return to action on Friday, playing host to Sul Ross State (1-2) at 6 p.m. at the Convocation Center in a game televised live on CUSA TV and broadcast live on Ticket 760 AM.
After Oklahoma scored the first six points of the game, UTSA rallied with seven unanswered to take its first lead of the game, getting a drive to the rim from Wallace, a triple from Jackson and a pair of free throws from Parrish to take a 7-6 lead.
The Sooners immediately answered, taking a 25-7 lead on the strength of 18 straight points, forcing a timeout from UTSA head coach Steve Henson.
The lead ballooned over 20 in the following minutes as the Sooners put the game out of reach, with OU owning a 51-28 lead at the half and taking the lead to 33 in the first two minutes of the second half.
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