OKLAHOMA CITY — Buddy Hield let Oklahoma’s fans witness one last vintage hot streak.
Playing at Chesapeake Energy Arena, just a half-hour drive from campus, the senior guard scored 19 of his 36 points in the final eight minutes to help the second-seeded Sooners hold off No. 10 seed VCU 85-81 Sunday in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Hield, the nation’s No. 2 scorer, posted at least 30 points for the 11th time this season. As he stood at the free-throw line late in the game, the fans stood and chanted, "Buddy! Buddy!"
"This is the big stage," Hield said. "It’s win or go home. It’s my senior year. NCAA Tournament. Everybody is watching. You don’t get these moments very often, so you go out there, you’ve got to bring it."
Hield didn’t score for more than 10 minutes to start the game, yet, as he often has done, he eventually got going. He made 9 of 12 shots in the second half after going 2 for 8 in the first.
"He’s done it so many times for us throughout his career, and especially this year, and again today," Oklahoma coach Lon Kruger said. "It seemed like every shot that he had that we needed, he stepped up and made it. And it’s not that easy to do, especially with the defence leaning on you and targeting you."
Hield scored 29 points in the second half.
"Best player I’ve seen in college basketball," VCU coach Will Wade said.
Jordan Woodard scored 17 points and Isaiah Cousins added 15 for the Sooners (27-7), who advanced to the Sweet 16 for the second straight year.
Melvin Johnson scored 18 of his 23 points in the second half, JeQuan Lewis scored 22 points and Michael Gilmore matched a career high with 12 for VCU (25-11), which was trying to reach the Sweet 16 for the first time since its Final Four run in 2011.
"It was a win-win situation. Everyone pretty much counted us out, so our backs were against the wall, and when your back is against the wall, all you’ve got to do is fight," Johnson said.
Hield scored seven points on 2-for-8 shooting in the first half, sitting the last four-plus minutes with two fouls. Lewis scored 13 points in the first half to keep the Rams within range.
Johnson, who struggled in the first half, sparked the Rams in the second half with two quick 3s.
The Rams led 65-63 before Hield scored eight points in just under two minutes, including two 3-pointers, to put the Sooners ahead for good.
Even with Hield’s closing flurry, the Rams remained in the game until the end.
"We’re tough, we’re gritty. We fight," Wade said. "We fight, fight, fight, fight, fight. We just didn’t have enough."
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MANYANG OUT
Oklahoma backup centre Akolda Manyang was not available because of a death in the family. A team spokesman said Manyang flew back to Minnesota on Sunday morning. Manyang, a 7-foot junior, averages 2.5 points and 1.4 blocks in 8.0 minutes per game.
ON THE RISE
Gilmore. The sophomore didn’t even play in the first round against Oregon State, but he was needed to match up with Oklahoma’s size. It was only his second time scoring in double figures this season, and the fourth time in his career.
QUOTABLE
Johnson, on VCU’s defence against Hield: "Obviously he’s logging a lot of hours in the gym because he shoots shots sometimes when he’s not even looking at the basket. As soon as he touches it, he lets it go."
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TIP-INS
VCU: Made just 2 of its first 9 shots. … Former coach Anthony Grant now is an assistant coach for the Oklahoma City Thunder. … Outrebounded Oklahoma 24-12 in the second half.
Oklahoma: Khadeem Lattin, who entered the game averaging 5.5 points, scored six in the first 3:07. … Hield, Cousins, Woodard and Ryan Spangler started together for the 102nd consecutive game. … Outrebounded VCU 25-13 in the first half. … Hield scored 27 points in Oklahoma’s first-round win over Cal State Bakersfield.
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UP NEXT
VCU: Season over.
Oklahoma: Will play in the Sweet 16 Thursday in Anaheim, California.
