Wildcats Hand Sooners Biggest Loss In Final Four History

<p>Oklahoma suffered the largest loss in Final Four history on Saturday as Villanova shot 71 percent from the field on its way to a 95-51 win. </p>

Saturday, April 2nd 2016, 8:30 pm

By: Brett Coppenbarger

Wildcats Hand Sooners Biggest Loss In Final Four History

It’s tough a tough task to try and slow down a speedy locomotive clicking on all cylinders, and that’s the problem the Sooners encountered on Saturday night as the Villanova shot 71.4 percent from the field on its way to a 95-51 win in the Final Four.

Villanova's shooting percentage was the second-best ever in a Final Four game, and the 44-point win was the largest margin of victory in any Final Four game of all-time.

Simple. One team capable of title nearly flawless. Other team can't make a shot. @news9
— Dean Blevins (@DeanBlevins) April 2, 2016

It wasn’t just the lights-out shooting the propelled the Wildcats to victory, as Villanova brought the heat on the defensive end of the floor as well. OU superstar Buddy Hield was limited to only nine points on 4-of-12 shooting while OU never seemed to get in a rhythm.

Despite the lopsided final score, It was a shootout early on inside of NRG Stadium in Houston, as the Wildcats and Sooners traded the lead a total of 11 times while it was a frenzy of traded baskets. But once Lon Kruger opted to turn to his bench unit, the Sooners lost any type of momentum they had built up.

Villanova ripped off a 12-to-0 run to get up double-digits while holding the Sooners scoreless for nearly six minutes during the middle of the first half. Oklahoma tried to make things interesting before halftime, but Josh Hart drilled a 3-pointer to put Villanova up 14 points at intermission.

Despite a hard-fought effort out of Oklahoma to start the second half, the Sooners were hardly making a dent in the deficit. The Sooners were aggressive out of the gates, but there was a feeling it wasn’t OU’s night when the Sooners were down 14, and had six chances to score on one possession but failed to capitalize.

Oklahoma got as close as nine points, but Villanova went on a whopping 25-to-0 run that was highlighted by a Mikal Bridges poster-dunk on OU’s Jamuni McNeace which wiped any chance of an OU comeback.

Jordan Woodard was the only Sooner to score in double-digits with 12 points, while Isaiah Cousins was held to eight points and Ryan Spangler totaled six points and four rebounds. OU shot 31.7 percent from the field and were plagued by 17 turnovers.

Hard to say 3-pt misses due to stadium setting w Nova lighting it up. But fact is, that rim is awfully small in #OU shooter's minds. @news9
— Dean Blevins (@DeanBlevins) April 2, 2016

Josh Hart led the Wildcats with 23 points on 10-of-12 shooting while Kris Jenkins added an efficient 18 points while hitting four shots from behind the arc. Six Villanova players scored in double-digits.

OU concludes the 2015-16 season with a 29-8 overall record.

Hard to say 3-pt misses due to stadium setting w Nova lighting it up. But fact is, that rim is awfully small in #OU shooter's minds. @news9
— Dean Blevins (@DeanBlevins) April 2, 2016

OU concludes the 2015-16 season with a 29-8 overall record.

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Oklahoma suffered the largest loss in Final Four history on Saturday as Villanova shot 71 percent from the field on its way to a 95-51 win.

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