Oklahoma overcomes Georgia’s fast start to post victory
Tae Davis scored 19 points to help lift Oklahoma to a 94-78 win over Georgia on Saturday in Southeastern Conference play at Norman, Okla.
The Bulldogs led by seven early in the second half before going ice cold from the field, missing nine consecutive shots and going more than five minutes without scoring.
The Sooners poured it on during that stretch, scoring 18 consecutive points and starting a period where they hit 10 of 12.
Oklahoma's run wound up being extended to 27-4, putting it up by 16 before the midpoint of the second half.
Kuol Atak tied his season high with six 3-pointers as the Sooners tied their season high with 14 overall.
Atak scored 18 points off the bench while Nijel Pack added 16.
Davis and Pack combined for 31 points in the second half.
Oklahoma (13-12, 3-9 SEC) shot 58.9% from the floor, including 67.9% in the second half. The Sooners' shooting percentage was tied for their second-best of the season.
After Wednesday's loss to Florida, Bulldogs coach Mike White said he would be open to lineup changes to help add some energy to his team from the jump.
White did just that, moving freshman Kareem Stagg - who had what White described as perhaps his best game of the season vs. Florida - into the starting lineup.
In that loss to the Gators, it took Georgia nearly six minutes to put points on the board.
There was no such slow start Saturday.
The Bulldogs (17-8, 5-7) hit their first nine shots, not missing until more than nine minutes had passed.
Four early turnovers, though, kept Georgia from creating much separation early as it led just 21-20 after that opening barrage.
The Bulldogs hit 15 of their first 17 from the field.
But after shooting 70.8% from the floor in the first half, Georgia was just 38.2% after the break.
About five minutes into the game, there was a brief delay after a popcorn machine in the arena's upper concourse caught fire, with flames and smoke visible from the court.
The sprinkler system in the area was activated.
Oklahoma has won back-to-back games after losing nine consecutive.
The Sooners have scored 92 points in each of their two wins.
Georgia has dropped five of its last six.
Blue Cain led the Bulldogs with 20 points while Marcus Millender added 16.