Khadeem Lattin, the only Oklahoma starter not averaging double-figures, provided Saturday’s biggest bucket, a tip-in with 2.8 seconds left that gave the No. 2 Sooners a 70-68 win over No. 11 West Virginia and created a four-way tie atop the Big 12.
“Getting to tip it in was great, but we all contributed. It was just my time at that moment,” said Lattin, whose play virtually assured Oklahoma of emerging as the AP’s No. 1 team Monday.
MORE: Allan Taylor’s column
Buddy Hield, the nation’s second-leading scorer, was held to 17 points as the Mountaineers (15-2, 4-1) kept Oklahoma’s 3-point shooters in check. But the Sooners ((15-1, 4-1) were money at the foul line, making 27-of-32.
West Virginia made only 13-of-22 free throws, though Jonathan Holton sank two that tied the score with 26 seconds left.
Holding for the final shot, Oklahoma’s Jordan Woodard missed a contested bank shot before Lattin put back the go-ahead basket knifing between Holton and Jaysean Paige.
“The offensive rebounds absolutely killed us,” said West Virginia coach Bob Huggins, whose team led by six points early in the second half and erased a seven-point deficit in the final 5 minutes.
“(Offensive rebounds) happen when you let let them penetrate too much. We just didn’t make rotations. The last shot goes up and everybody watches the ball. Devin (Williams’) guy tipped it in but it wasn’t Devin’s fault because Devin had to help.”
BOXSCORE: Oklahoma 70, WVU 68
Lattin, the sophomore with the 7-foot-2 wingspan, finished with seven points and eight rebounds. His biggest rebound gave the Sooners a 39-37 edge on the boards and a 19-7 margin in second-chance points.
“It takes a tough group to battle West Virginia on the boards and that’s an area where we’re not the most physical group,” said Sooners coach Lon Kruger. “I thought the guys stuck their nose in there pretty well today.”
West Virginia eschewed a timeout after Lattin’s tip-in and hurriedly inbounded the ball. Hield deflected the pass, leading to Jevon Carter’s 75-foot desperation heave that wasn’t close.
Delivering another productive game off the bench, Paige scored 18 on 6-of-10 shooting, including a 3-pointer that pulled West Virginia to within 68-66 with 1:47 left.
“He didn’t finish around the rim as well as he has, but Jaysean has come a long, long way,” Huggins said.
Hield came in averaging 26 points yet settled for a season-low 11 shot attempts. He made 4-of-8 from 3-point range while his teammates hit only 3-of-16. The Sooners shot a season-worst 33 percent overall, compared to WVU’s 44 percent.
West Virginia’s top scorer Williams grabbed six rebounds but finished with only five points on four shots, limited to 15 minutes by foul trouble.
Reserve Elijah Macon added nine points and four rebounds, while Holton scored eight and Phillip seven.
Oklahoma’s Ryan Spangler worked the glass for 14 rebounds and 10 points while Woodard scored 13.