UTSA ties Oklahoma at halftime but falls 85-67

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NORMAN, Okla. — UTSA took a 38-36 lead over Oklahoma in the second half, but Sooners freshman De’Vion Harmon drained two 3-pointers to put Oklahoma ahead, and Austin Reaves followed with a pair of layups as the Sooners rolled to an 85-67 win Tuesday in both teams’ season opener.

“I thought we’d come out and play a lot better in the second half, and the opposite happened,” UTSA coach Steve Henson said. “Transition and second shots really hurt us early in the second half. They popped it open and we couldn’t respond. Couldn’t slow them down.”

Reaves, a transfer from Wichita State, scored 17 of his 23 points in the second half. He made 8 of 13 shots in the second half after going 1 for 7 in the first.

“That was crazy,” Harmon said. “To witness that, just to see him go nuts — as a teammate, you’ve got to be happy for him. I was celebrating.”

UTSA's Keaton Wallace (22) looks to get around Oklahoma's Jamal Bieniemy (24) during the college basketball game between the University of Oklahoma and the UTSA Roadrunners at the Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Okla., Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019. [Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman] less UTSA's Keaton Wallace (22) looks to get around Oklahoma's Jamal Bieniemy (24) during the college basketball game between the University of Oklahoma and the UTSA Roadrunners at the Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, ... more Photo: SARAH PHIPPS, STF / Sarah Phipps Photo: SARAH PHIPPS, STF / Sarah Phipps Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close UTSA ties Oklahoma at halftime but falls 85-67 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

Reaves, who sat out last season, matched his career-high point total in his first game as a Sooner. He said Oklahoma’s improved intensity in the second half led to his opportunities.

Harmon scored 23 points and Brady Manek added 16 for the Sooners, who outscored the Roadrunners 49-31 in the second half. Harmon, known for his drives to the hoop, made 8 of 13 shots in his first game for the Sooners. He made 3 of 6 3-pointers, which threw a wrench in Henson’s game plan.

“When he starts knocking down 3s, it’s a much different situation,” Henson said. “We knew he could do that, but we kind of hoped he wouldn’t.”

Jhivvan Jackson, the Conference USA preseason Player of the Year, had 24 points and 13 rebounds for UTSA but made just 9 of 25 shots. Keaton Wallace added 17 points and nine rebounds for the Roadrunners, who were picked to finish second in Conference USA.

“Wallace and Jackson are two premier guards,” Oklahoma coach Lon Kruger said. “They can go off very quickly. But we made them work for their shots, made them earn their shots.”

The game was tied at 36 at halftime. Oklahoma shot just 36 percent from the field but made 12 of 13 free throws before the break. UTSA shot 41 percent and outrebounded the Sooners 24-16 in the first half. The Sooners relied on their defense in the first half, then found their shooting stroke in the second half and pulled away.

Oklahoma forward Kristian Doolittle sat out because of an NCAA rules violation. Kruger announced Monday that the senior played in an unsanctioned summer league game.

Up next, UTSA will face Southern Illinois in the Sunshine Classic at 6:30 p.m. Friday in Kissimmee, Florida. Oklahoma plays Minnesota on Saturday in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.