OKLAHOMA CITY — In an exciting matchup on Saturday night, Sam Godwin achieved a personal best, scoring 20 points and securing 14 rebounds, leading the No. 13 ranked Oklahoma team to an 80-65 victory over their in-state rivals, Oklahoma State. This game marked the first Bedlam basketball clash since the Sooners transitioned from the Big 12 to the Southeastern Conference.

Alongside Godwin’s impressive performance, Jeremiah Fears contributed 17 points, while Kobe Elvis added 15 for the Sooners. With this win, Oklahoma has not only maintained an undefeated record, now standing at 10-0 but has also triumphed in their last three encounters with the Cowboys. The Sooners demonstrated solid shooting, hitting 49% of their shots by making 30 out of 61 attempts from the field. Godwin was particularly impactful early in the game, scoring eight of the first 21 points for his team.

On the other side, the Cowboys struggled offensively, with Marchelus Avery leading the team with 19 points and Arturo Dean adding 11 points, but Oklahoma State only managed to convert 39% of their shots, making just 22 out of 56 attempts. Their three-point shooting was especially poor, as they hit only 5 of 18 attempts, translating to a mere 28%. The first half was especially challenging for Oklahoma State, as they fell behind 43-26 by halftime, exacerbated by an extended scoring drought that lasted over eight minutes.

A notable moment in the game occurred when Oklahoma managed to grow their lead from 17 points to 53-31 early in the second half, thanks to a layup from Fears at the 16:44 mark. From that point onward, Oklahoma State couldn’t manage to bring the deficit to within 15 points, making a comeback increasingly difficult.

In evaluating key statistics, Oklahoma asserted dominance in the paint, scoring 42 points compared to Oklahoma State’s mere 26. The depth of Oklahoma’s bench also proved significant, as they outscored Oklahoma’s reserves 42-7, highlighting the struggles of the Cowboys’ starting lineup—a challenge that first-year coach Steve Lutz was eager to address.

Looking forward, Oklahoma is set to face off against No. 14 Michigan in the Jumpman Invitational on Wednesday in Charlotte, North Carolina. Meanwhile, Oklahoma State will be hosting Tarleton State on the same day, hoping to bounce back after this tough loss against their rivals.