NORMAN — Oklahoma successfully protected its home floor thanks to an incredible night from guard Payton Verhulst on Thursday.
She poured in 38 points to help power the No. 13-ranked Sooners past Missouri 80-63 at the Lloyd Noble Center.
Her performance tied Phylesha Whaley for the fifth-most points in a single game ever by a Sooner.
Madi Williams set the program record on Jan. 3, 2021 when she dropped 45 on West Virginia in Norman.
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With the win, Jennie Baranczyk’s team moved to 15-3 overall and 3-2 in SEC contests, while the Tigers fell to 11-9 and 0-5 in league play.
Final Box Score / OU Stats
Verhulst has had a lot of nice offensive nights in her career.
None were better than Thursday.
The senior guard scored her 38 points on 13-of-19 shooting from the floor and 6-of-9 from 3-point land.
“I have such incredibly high expectations for her that I feel like there are just so many things that she can do,” Baranczyk said of Verhulst. And it’s not always scoring, and today it was, but I think she’s just an incredible versatile player. And when she lets the game come to her like this, really special things happen.”
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Incredibly, 20 of those points came in the third quarter alone.
She shot a perfect 6-for-6 in the third, knocking down a pair of triples and getting to the free throw line six times.
Verhulst didn’t have to hunt her shot, either.
Missouri had no answer for the dynamic scorer, and she did all of her damage within the normal flow of the offense.
“Credit to everybody because I wouldn’t have gotten those shots or looks without the passes,” Verhulst said.
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After the game, Verhulst pointed to some work she did with OU associate head coach Jonas Chatterton to help unlock things on Thursday.
“He had reached out to me yesterday,” Verhulst said, “just looking back on some film and trying to give me some pointers on shots and what I Can do to just continue to be more efficient. And I think that was really helpful for me. When I have simple things to work on in a game, I think that’s good for me.”
Her previous career-high was a 32-point showing against Oral Roberts last year.
The big concern coming out of Sunday’s win over Texas A&M was the health of Raegan Beers.
Yesterday, Baranczyk was uncertain if the OU center would be cleared for action, but she started on Thursday against the Tigers
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Beers didn’t look to be in any extra discomfort in the first half, but she didn’t start the second half for the Sooners.
On Wednesday, Baranczyk said Beers would start if she was cleared to play, but she might carry a minutes restriction.
“I know she tried it today, obviously. You got to see her kind of try and we couldn’t have her in the second half,” Baranczyk said of Beers.
She entered the night averaging 21.7 minutes per game, but her night was done after playing 10 minutes in the first half.
Beers wasn’t needed in the second half, largely due to Verhulst’s heroics, but she’ll at least be an option on Sunday barring a setback.
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The Sooners never lost control in the first half, but the second quarter was sloppy.
OU turned the ball over eight times in the second frame, allowing the Tigers to slightly cut into the lead.
Any doubts about a slugging performance ahead of Sunday’s showdown with No. 2 South Carolina were immediately put to bed, however.
Fueled by nine quick points from Verhulst, Oklahoma sprinted out to an 11-0 run to start the second half, extending its lead to 18 points.
And while the Tigers were unable to do anything against Verhulst, the Sooners only turned the ball over three times in the third quarter, allowing the team to win the quarter 24-15.
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OU did lose center Liz Scott to a collision in the second half, which meant Verhulst’s work was even more important to keep the offense moving.
“She did a really nice job of being able to get some paint production for us,” Baranczyk said. “And I thought our whole team did.”
The hosts continued to take care of the basketball in the fourth quarter, a welcome sign from a team that has struggled to limit turnovers this season.
Now, the Sooners will head to take on South Carolina on Sunday at 2 p.m.
STILLWATER, Okla. — Christian Coleman tallied a 20-point, 10-rebound double-double as Oklahoma State held off Kansas City 91-79 on Thursday night.
Coleman shot 8 of 12 from the field and controlled the paint as the Cowboys improved to 10-1 and stayed unbeaten at home. Oklahoma State shot 58% overall, setting the tone early by opening the game on a 14-4 run before Kansas City settled in offensively.
Oklahoma State led 48-44 at halftime, but the margin remained slim well into the second half as the Roos continued to answer runs.
Kansas City briefly moved in front midway through the half, but Oklahoma State responded with a steady stretch fueled by Coleman and Anthony Roy. The Cowboys regained control with a three-point play by Coleman and pushed the lead to eight with just over seven minutes remaining, then closed the game at the line.
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Roy finished with 18 points, including several baskets late, while Vyctorius Miller added 13 points and three assists. Andrija Vukovic scored 11, and Oklahoma State finished with a 41-29 rebounding edge.
Karmello Branch led the Roos with 18 points, Jayson Petty added 16 and Kasheem Grady II scored 14. Kansas City shot 37% from the field, went 11 of 30 from 3-point range and made 18 of 22 free throws, but could not match Oklahoma State’s efficiency inside late.
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Kansas City closed its nonconference road schedule at 2-11.
Up Next
Oklahoma State hosts Cal State Fullerton on Sunday.
Kansas City returns home to face Austin Peay on Sunday.
Former interim Big 12 commissioner Chuck Neinas dies at 93
Big 12 negotiating deal to provide its schools capital infusion of up to $500 million
Find more college sports coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
Find more Oklahoma State coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond is taking action against Uber Technologies LLC and Uber USA LLC after alleging the use of deceptive and unfair practices in selling subscription services.
According to the Drummond office, the lawsuit against Uber Technologies LLC and Uber USA LLC seeks to uncover an alleged variety of unfair operations in selling Uber One subscription services.
On Monday, Drummond, alongside a coalition of 21 other state attorneys general, joined the lawsuit filed initially by the Federal Trade Commission.
Drummond says the lawsuit alleges the following:
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Uber is accused of improperly using negative option marketing tactics when it offered free trial subscriptions – a practice that automatically charges consumers if they do not cancel a free trial.
Uber allegedly misled consumers about the amounts they could save when subscribing to Uber One and made it extraordinarily difficult for consumers to cancel once enrolled.
Uber is also accused of charging consumers before their billing date, including users whose free trial had not yet ended.
“Oklahoma law prohibits deceptive trade practices and I will always fight to hold accountable any company who breaks the law,” Drummond said. “Unless Uber is stopped in court, they are likely to continue cheating and harming hardworking Oklahomans.”
The AG’s office says the lawsuit seeks restitution, penalties, costs, and an injunction against Uber for alleged violations of Oklahoma’s Consumer Protection Act and the U.S. Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act.
The lawsuit is currently scheduled for trial on February 2027, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
Here is the state coalition list; in addition to Oklahoma, it includes Maryland, Alabama, Arizona, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin, as well as the District Attorney for Alameda County in California.
Oklahoma running back Jovantae Barnes was upgraded on the second College Football Playoff availability report of the week.
Barnes appeared on Tuesday’s report as probable, but he was left off Wednesday’s report, meaning he will be available for Friday’s contest against Alabama.
Barnes appeared in four games during the regular season, carrying the ball 19 times for 45 yards and a touchdown. He also caught one pass for 16 yards.
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The senior running back was able to redshirt by only playing in four games. Postseason games, including the College Football Playoff, do not count against eligibility, so Barnes will be able to maintain eligibility in 2026 and still be able to take the field for the Sooners in the CFP.
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Oklahoma’s main injury concern, center Jake Maikkula, continues to linger.
Maikkula was listed as questionable on the report for the second straight day.
Maikkula missed OU’s regular-season finale against LSU due to what Brent Venables labeled as an “infection”. He was fully suited up during a brief 15-minute practice viewing window on Monday, but he was working off to the side instead of with Oklahoma’s starting offensive line group.
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Oklahoma’s best news of the week came on Tuesday.
Star pass rusher R Mason Thomas was not listed on the week’s first availability report, meaning he’s good to go to take on the Crimson Tide.
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Thomas earned All-SEC First Team honors in 2025 despite missing a majority of Red November.
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He appeared in nine regular-season games, totaling 23 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. Thomas also forced two fumbles, and he scooped up a Joey Aguilar fumble and returned it all the way for a touchdown. He sustained a quad injury on the play, however, which cost him the Alabama, Missouri and LSU games.
Thomas also missed the first half of OU’s SEC opener against Auburn after he was ejected in the second half of Oklahoma’s win over Temple for targeting.
Defensive backs Gentry Williams, Kendel Dolby and Jeremiah Newcombe were all ruled out for the CFP opener on Tuesday.
Dolby announced that he intends to enter the transfer portal on Wednesday.
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When asked about the defensive back after Dolby’s announcement on Wednesday, Venables was short.
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“I’m not going to talk about anybody that’s not here,” he said.
Alabama tight ends Josh Cuevas and Danny Lewis Jr. were both upgraded to probable after the tight end duo was listed as questionable on the week’s first availability report.
The Sooners and the Crimson Tide will battle at 7 p.m. on Friday, and the game will air on ABC and ESPN.
