OU SOONER WOMEN CHARLOTTE(AP) – Payton Verhulst and Skylar Vann each scored 12 points, and No. 10 Oklahoma beat No. 20 Michigan 72-62 on Tuesday night at the Jumpman Invitational.

It was a hard-fought win as the Wolverines tested the Sooners physically and pushed the pace offensively. And on a night when Oklahoma didn’t shoot their best, they still found a way to come out on top in the end.

Lexy Keys added 11 points and Sahara Williams had 10 for the Sooners (101), who scored 20 points off 26 Wolverines turnovers. Raegan Beers added 10 rebounds.

Mila Holloway scored 20 points to lead Michigan (9-2), while Jordan Hobbs had 14 before fouling out in the fourth quarter.

It was a close game for the first three quarters, but mistakes finally caught up with the Wolverines. Oklahoma took advantage, pulling away midway through the fourth quarter after Keys and Vann buried 3-pointers to give the Sooners their largest lead of the game at 11.

TAKEAWAYS

Michigan: It was a sloppy night for the Wolverines, who struggled with Oklahoma’s defense. Some of the mistakes were self-inflicted, but the Sooners’ defense clearly caused Michigan problems.

Oklahoma: The taller Sooners did a better job on the glass and outrebounded Michigan 44-37.

The Sooners trailed 39-35 with just over six minutes to play in the third quarter. A 9-0 run, where Oklahoma scored on four of their next five possessions, helped the Sooners establish control of the game. And the Sooners never looked back. They outscored Michigan 37 to 23 over the final 16 minutes of game action.

KEY STAT

Michigan was just 9 of 16 from the free-throw line while Oklahoma was 16 of 24.

KEY MOMENT

Keys’ 3-pointer with 7:28 left in the fourth quarter gave the Sooners a 59-51 lead and the breathing room they had been looking for all game.

Team Win

Despite her foul trouble, Beers chipped in nine points and 10 rebounds. The Sooners ended up with four players in double figures, including a team-high 12 points from Payton Verhulst and Skylar Vann. Lexy Keys chipped in 11 points off the bench, including 3 of 7 from three.

Oklahoma had eight players score at least six points in the game and received 23 points off the bench.

It wasn’t the cleanest performance for the Oklahoma Sooners. But they found a way to get a tough win in a neutral site contest against a top 25 team. They’ll hope to build on that performance with two more nonconference games against Omaha and New Mexico State before what will likely be a top 10 showdown against the Texas Longhorns to open SEC play.

UP NEXT

The Sooners return to Norman to face Omaha at Lloyd Noble Center on Sunday at 3 p.m. CT.

OU SOONER MEN

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Jeremiah Fears buried a 3-pointer with 11.5 seconds left and drew a foul, then calmly sank the ensuing free throw for a four-point play as No. 14 Oklahoma edged 24th-ranked Michigan 87-86 on Wednesday night in a wild finish at the Jumpman Invitational.

Fears finished with 30 points on 8-of-12 shooting as the Sooners (11-0) remained unbeaten. Duke Miles had 17 points, including two big 3s in the second half.

Vladislav Goldin finished with 26 points and 10 rebounds, while Danny Wolf had 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Wolverines (8-3).

The Wolverines were in control most of the game and had a three-point lead and the ball with 30 seconds left before a turnover gave the Sooners a chance.

After several passes around the perimeter, Fears broke free and made a 30-footer from the left wing and fell back as he was fouled by Roddy Gayle Jr. The Wolverines still had a chance to win the game on their final possession, but Tre Donaldson missed a 3-pointer and Wolf couldn’t get the offensive rebound off before the clock expired.

TAKEAWAY

Oklahoma: Outside of a win over then-No. 24 Arizona, the Sooners hadn’t been tested much this season. But they showed their mettle by battling back against one of tallest teams in the country. Fears proved he’s a gamer with a huge shot to win it.

KEY STAT

The Sooners were 12 of 25 from beyond the arc, while the Wolverines were just 4 of 28.

UP NEXT

Oklahoma hosts Central Arkansas on Sunday, Dec. 22 at noon inside Lloyd Noble Center.

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