Trae Young's efficient night helps Oklahoma knock off Kansas | Zagsblog
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Sunday / December 22.
  • Trae Young’s efficient night helps Oklahoma knock off Kansas

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    NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Trae Young had 26 points and nine assists, and No. 12 Oklahoma rallied to beat No. 5 Kansas 85-80 on Tuesday night.

    Young, the nation’s leader in scoring and assists, struggled with efficiency in losses to Kansas State and Oklahoma State last week. Against Kansas, the freshman point guard made 7 of 9 field goals and 10 of 12 free throws.

    “This is how I want to continue to play…I liked how I played today,” Young told ESPN of his less risky approach to the game.

    “Everybody played well and this is a good team we beat today. I’m proud of my teammates.”

    Christian James scored 15 points and Brady Manek added 14 for the Sooners (15-4, 5-3 Big 12), who won their 13th straight at home.

    Svi Mykhailiuk scored 24 points and Malik Newman added 20 for Kansas (16-4, 6-2), which had won five straight. Devonte’ Graham, Kansas’ leading scorer, finished with 11 points on 4-of-19 shooting.

    Kansas led for most of the second half, but James’ 3-pointer with 1:09 remaining on an assist from Young put the Sooners up 82-80. Manek later drained a 3-pointer, also on an assist from Young, to make it 85-80 with 25 seconds to play.

    Oklahoma effectively limited Kansas center Udoka Azubuike. The 7-footer scored nine points, all in the second half. He played with foul trouble and made just 1 of 7 free throws.

    Oklahoma drew the second foul on Azubuike with 10:14 left in the first half and Kansas leading 19-13. The Sooners went on a 13-4 run in the next three minutes to take the lead.

    The Sooners led 43-41 at halftime. Young took just four shots and had six assists before the break, and he didn’t attempt a 3-pointer. Newman led Kansas with 15 points in the half and Mykhailiuk added 11. Graham was held to 7 points on 2 for 9 shooting before the break.

    Kansas took the lead in the opening minutes of the second half. Azubuike made three consecutive buckets during one stretch to give Kansas a 55-47 lead.

    Oklahoma intentionally fouled Azubuike, a 41-percent free throw shooter coming in, several times. He missed all five of his free throws in the final 3:37 to help the Sooners get back into the game.

    BIG PICTURE

    Kansas: The Jayhawks were two games ahead of the rest of the Big 12 in the loss column and missed a chance to take control of the conference race.

    Oklahoma: The Sooners needed a win after the two losses to unranked opponents. Young trusted his teammates at crunch time, and they delivered.

    UP NEXT

    Kansas hosts Texas A&M on Saturday in the Big 12/SEC Challenge.

    Oklahoma travels to Alabama on Saturday in the Big 12/SEC Challenge.

    Photo: AP

    (AP Photo/Garett Fisbeck)

    Written by

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    Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle. A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013. He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.

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