Oklahoma

Report Card: Oklahoma lets late lead slip away, falling 82-79 to LSU

Published

10 months ago

February 16, 2025

Press Room

Report Card: Oklahoma lets late lead slip away, falling 82-79 to LSU

With 24 seconds left, the Sooners led LSU by five points. Surely they close it out, right?

Wrong. Instead of finding a way to win, Porter Moser’s squad found a way to lose — marking, without question, the worst loss of his four-year tenure at Oklahoma.

Cam Carter delivered the dagger for LSU, scoring the key baskets in the final moments to complete the comeback. He finished with 29 points on 10-17 shooting from the field and 5-10 from beyond the arc. Damion Collins was a major problem for Oklahoma as well, adding 22 points on 8-10 shooting and knocking down a three.

Despite leading by as many as 13 in the second half — and holding a five-point lead with 24 seconds left — the Sooners couldn’t put the Tigers away, letting what should have been a surefire win slip through their fingers.

Here’s the Report Card from the 82-79 collapse that dropped Oklahoma to 16-9 (3-9):

The Final Minute: F-minus

With 24 seconds left, LSU took a timeout. Out of the break, Carter knocked down a three-pointer and drew a foul on Jalon Moore, turning a 79-74 Oklahoma lead into a 79-78 game with 20 seconds left.

Then, Moore turned it over on the inbounds, leading to a Carter layup despite getting fouled by Duke Miles. After the made free throw, LSU led 81-79 with eight seconds remaining.

On Friday, Moser talked a lot about eliminating “slippage” — unnecessary mistakes like turnovers and bad fouls. In the final 30 seconds, Oklahoma committed both, plus the inexplicable mistake of fouling a three-point shooter while up five.

There was plenty of “slippage” on display in the final minute, resulting in a brutal collapse.

Starting Five: F-plus

Fears finished with 15 points, five rebounds, and five turnovers in 31 minutes, shooting 5-15 from the field and 2-5 from three. He had some strong moments offensively but was inconsistent overall and plagued by turnovers.

Moore added 14 points and seven rebounds, going 3-10 from the field but a perfect 8-8 from the free throw line. Despite his production, his late-game mistakes played a major role in Oklahoma’s collapse.

Miles contributed 12 points, five rebounds, four steals, and three assists on an efficient 2-3 shooting from the field and 8-8 from the line. Brycen Goodine chipped in seven points, shooting 3-6 overall and 1-4 from deep.

Sam Godwin finished with seven points and seven rebounds but had a costly missed layup in the second half that resulted in a six-point swing — one of many critical errors for the Sooners.

Ultimately, while players like Fears and Miles had bright spots, the late-game mistakes from key contributors doomed Oklahoma in the end.

Bench: C-minus

The Sooners put their trust in Dayton Forsythe down the stretch, and he delivered with key plays. He hit a turnaround jumper to give Oklahoma a three-point lead with just over a minute remaining before the Sooners ultimately collapsed.

Forsythe finished with eight points, four rebounds, and zero turnovers, shooting 2-5 from the field and a perfect 4-4 from the free throw line in 18 minutes of action.

Kobe Elvis had some nice moments in the first half but played just three minutes in the second. He finished with eight points on 4-9 shooting but struggled from deep, going 0-3.

Mohamed Wague also contributed solid minutes, scoring seven points on a perfect 3-3 from the field.

Three-Point Shooting: F-minus

The Sooners struggled mightily from beyond the arc, shooting just 3-18 (16.7%). Jeremiah Fears accounted for two of those makes, while Brycen Goodine hit the other.

It’s nearly impossible to win an SEC game shooting that poorly from deep, yet Oklahoma still had every opportunity to close it out. That, more than anything, highlights why LSU entered this game with a 1-10 conference record.

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Oklahoma

Six bridges damaged by semi truck hauling ‘illegally over-height’ load, Oklahoma Turnpike Authority says

Published

3 hours ago

December 17, 2025

Press Room

Six bridges damaged by semi truck hauling ‘illegally over-height’ load, Oklahoma Turnpike Authority says

Oklahoma authorities are investigating multiple bridge strikes that occurred along the I-44/Will Rogers Turnpike on Tuesday afternoon.

On December 16, 2025, “an illegally over-height commercial motor vehicle drove this afternoon from Tulsa to near Miami,” causing damage to “multiple county bridges above the I-44/Will Rogers Turnpike,” according to the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA).

The OTA notes that “it is illegal for trucks taller than 14 feet to travel the state highway system without permits and approved routes. The bridges damaged today range from 14 feet and 11 inches to 15 feet and 4 inches in vertical clearance, well above the legal limit.”

OTA

“We are continuing to see damage to our state transportation infrastructure from illegal, over-height semi-trucks. This is a critical issue that puts the traveling public at risk and is unacceptable. We are extremely grateful no one was injured in this incident,” OTA Executive Director Joe Echelle said. “We implore truck drivers to follow all Oklahoma laws and work with the state’s Size and Weights permitting office to ensure that all travelers are safe on our roadways and that our infrastructure remains undamaged by these careless acts.”

Officials say that the following bridges were struck:

E. 530 Rd. – closed between S. 4130 Rd. and Lakeway Rd.
S. 4220 Rd. – closed between E. 460 Rd. and E. 470 Rd. east of Claremore
N. 429 Rd. – closed between E. 390 Rd. and SH-28
N. 4300 Rd. – closed between E. 380 Rd. and W. 390 Rd.
N. 4310 Rd. – open
W. 370 Rd. – open

The Will Rogers Turnpike is open, but drivers should expect temporary delays as crews continue to inspect the damaged bridges.

“OTA is working closely with officials from Rogers County, City of Claremore, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and ODOT in response to this incident,” the agency said.

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Oklahoma

How to watch Oklahoma-Alabama in the College Football Playoff: TV/streaming info and more

Published

15 hours ago

December 17, 2025

Press Room

How to watch Oklahoma-Alabama in the College Football Playoff: TV/streaming info and more

For the second time this year, we’ll see Oklahoma and Alabama face off in a pivotal showdown.

The Sooners (10-2) will host the Crimson Tide (10-3) for a College Football Playoff showdown Friday at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. The last time these teams faced off, Oklahoma came away with a 23-21 win over Alabama on the road.

Will Oklahoma once again topple Alabama? Here’s everything fans should know about Oklahoma-Alabama in the CFP:

How to watch Oklahoma-Alabama in the CFP

When: 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19

Where: Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium (Norman, Oklahoma)

TV: ABC/ESPN Streaming: ESPN app

A prime-time showdown

None of the four first-round College Football Playoff games overlap, but Alabama-Oklahoma really takes center stage.

With the other three games on Saturday, including Texas A&M-Miami, this game is the only one on Friday night and doesn’t overlap with any of Saturday’s NFL action like Tulane-Ole Miss and James Madison-Oregon do.

It shouldn’t be as cold as it has been lately in Norman, Okla., as early forecasts are expecting temperatures in the lower-50s and upper-40s on Friday. Combine that with a 7 p.m. kickoff that gives Oklahoma fans plenty of time to tailgate and get riled up for the game, and “The Palace on the Prairie” should be a sight to behold as it hosts its first CFP game.

Oklahoma-Alabama head-to-head

Oklahoma and Alabama have faced off eight times in the past. The Sooners lead the all-time series 5-2-1. As we mentioned above, Oklahoma won the latest matchup in the 2025 regular season.

Latest stories

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— Brent Venables’ aggressive defense gives Oklahoma different look than past CFP teams

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Find more Oklahoma coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.

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Oklahoma

Children’s mental health facility reopens in Northeast Oklahoma

Published

1 day ago

December 16, 2025

Press Room

Children’s mental health facility reopens in Northeast Oklahoma

Moccasin Bend Ranch, a residential treatment program in Wyandotte, has reopened after a remodel, expanding access to specialized mental health services for children ages 5 to 12. Leaders say the program fills a critical gap in Oklahoma, where options for young children needing higher levels of care remain limited.

A unique approach for younger children

Moccasin Bend Ranch is a 28 bed psychiatric residential treatment facility set on 12 wooded acres. The unlocked campus is designed to give children access to outdoor play and nature, something leaders say is essential for younger patients.

“This setting allows our kids to act like kids,” said Christina Holum, interim chief executive officer at Willow Crest Hospital and Moccasin Bend Ranch. “Watching them play gives us a renewed sense of purpose. We are confident this change will lead to better outcomes and happier, healthier children.”

The ranch focuses exclusively on children, a distinction that sets it apart from many other programs across the state.

Why early treatment matters

Mental health leaders say many children referred to Moccasin Bend Ranch have already tried outpatient therapy and medication management without success. By the time families seek residential care, behaviors are often increasing in both frequency and intensity.

“If outpatient services are not working, families need somewhere to turn,” said Grant Linihan, vice president of business development for Vizion Health, which owns the facility. “If our program was not available, these, kids, where are they going to go to get treated?”

Linihan and Holum say early intervention can help children develop coping skills and emotional regulation before problems follow them into adolescence and adulthood.

Inside the treatment program

Children at Moccasin Bend Ranch receive a full schedule of therapeutic services, including individual therapy, family therapy and group sessions. The program also emphasizes recreational and expressive therapies to help children process trauma and build skills in a developmentally appropriate way.

Staff members work with families to plan for discharge, aiming to ensure continuity of care once a child returns home.

Making the holidays feel normal

For some children, the holiday season can be especially difficult. Leaders say the ranch makes a point to celebrate milestones and traditions, even while children are in treatment.

The facility hosts holiday meals, seasonal activities and visits from community volunteers, including a volunteer Santa. Children are also taken to see nearby holiday light displays.

“We try to get them to reshape their minds,” Linihan said. “Even though you’re with us, this is still going to be a joyous time for you.”

A broader mental health need in Oklahoma

Mental health providers say the need for pediatric services is tied to broader challenges across the state, including limited funding and access to care. They note that untreated mental health issues in childhood can contribute to long term struggles later in life.

“There will always be a need for this type of service for a certain group of children,” Holum said. “If they cannot get help early, their prognosis becomes much worse.”

How families can get help

Families who are concerned about a child’s mental health can contact Willow Crest Hospital or Moccasin Bend Ranch for a free phone intake. Staff members can help parents determine whether residential treatment is appropriate or if outpatient care may still be an option.

Willow Crest Hospital, also operated by Vizion Health, is a 50 bed acute inpatient psychiatric facility in Miami serving adolescents ages 9 to 17. Together, the programs serve families from across Oklahoma, including hundreds of children from Tulsa County each year.

For more information, families can call (918) 542-1836 to speak with an intake specialist. You can also find their website here.

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