Oklahoma

Women’s Hoops Hosts Bedlam in Norman on Saturday – University of Oklahoma

Published

2 years ago

February 23, 2024

Women’s Hoops Hosts Bedlam in Norman on Saturday – University of Oklahoma

NORMAN – Big 12 leader No. 23 Oklahoma (19-7, 13-2 Big 12) looks to move one step closer to repeating as Big 12 champions on Saturday when it hosts Oklahoma State (13-13, 6-9 Big 12) in Norman.

It’s the final scheduled Bedlam battle between the two rivals who have played annually since 1975 (115 meetings), with tip slated for 1 p.m. CT on FOX with Tim Brando and Meghan McKeown on the call.

FAN INFO

Sooner Nation only has two more chances to see the Sooners at home – Saturday vs. the Cowgirls and next Wednesday (Feb. 28) vs. No. 5 Texas. Fans can purchase the exclusive rivalry pack and secure lower-level seats for both games for $15.

Saturday’s game is OU’s Crimson Out, and fans are encouraged to wear crimson.

Doors to the arena open one hour before tip, and the Lloyd Noble Center’s clear-bag policy is in effect.

THE STARTING FIVE

The Sooners held strong at No. 23 in the AP Poll this week after splitting their ranked contests last week. The Sooners remained at No. 25 in the WBCA Coaches Poll on Tuesday. OU checked in at No. 28 in the latest NET ranking and is tabbed as a seven seed in the newest bracketology.
The Sooners have built quite the resume for the NCAA Tournament as we approach March Madness. Oklahoma boasts a league-leading 13-2 record in the Big 12 and has four wins over top 25 teams (No. 12 Ole Miss, No. 10 Texas, No. 2 Kansas State and No. 21 Baylor). The Sooners boast a 13-6 record vs. Quad 1 and 2 teams this season in the NET. OU has played the 10th toughest schedule in the country.
A win would mark Oklahoma’s 14th win in conference play, which would mark the first time since 2001 and 2002 that Sooners have won 14 Big 12 games in back-to-back years. It would be OU’s 40th regular season conference win under Baranczyk, the most league wins in a three-year stretch since head coach Sherri Coale won 40 from 2006-08.
Skylar Vann (15.5 PPG, 7.2 RPG) and Payton Verhulst (12.0 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 4.0 APG) have starred for OU as the two have made strong cases for All-Big 12 honors. Vann, the league’s only two-time Sixth Player of the Year, is having a career year and has posted 19 straight games of double-digit points. Verhulst is riding the best stretch of her career as the guard averages 15.0 PPG (40% 3P%), 6.7 RPG, 6.0 APG and 2.0 SPG in February.
If you want to see one of the fastest and most prolific offenses in the country, then come to Norman, Oklahoma. The Sooners are averaging 77.4 points per game (26th NCAA, 3rd Big 12) this season and have posted 90 points six times (2nd Big 12) this season. Guided by a blistering pace of 76.5 possessions per game (10th NCAA), the Sooners get up and down the floor faster than most.

SERIES HISTORY

Saturday marks the 116th edition of Bedlam. Oklahoma owns a 68-47 series advantage over Oklahoma State, including a 36-15 record in Norman, where OU has won the last two contests. The Sooners have won five straight over the Cowgirls and are 2-0 in Norman under Baranczyk.

OU’s 68 wins over the Cowgirls are the most for Oklahoma vs. a single opponent. After OU won 25 of the 21st century’s first 26 meetings, the series has been hotly contested, with the OU holding a narrow 15-12 advantage over the last 27 contests.

Saturday’s meeting is the final scheduled contest between the two as Oklahoma moves to the Southeastern Conference in 2024.

LAST TIME OUT

Skylar Vann scored 22 points, and Lexy Keys and Sahara Williams each added 17 points to help No. 23 Oklahoma beat Cincinnati 95-87 on Tuesday night. Oklahoma (19-7, 13-2 Big 12) bounced back after losing for the first time since Jan. 10, ending a nine-game winning streak on Saturday against No. 24 West Virginia.

With the win, Oklahoma, who leads the Big 12, has clinched a top-four seed at next month’s Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship, guaranteeing it a double-BYE in the bracket. Oklahoma scored the opening seven points of the game and never trailed against Cincinnati — leading by as many as 22 points with 4:22 left in the third quarter.

UP NEXT

The Sooners stay in Norman for a matchup with No. 5 Texas on Wednesday (Feb. 28) at 6 p.m. OU knocked off the Horns earlier this season, 91-87, in Austin.

The game will showcase two of the league’s top three teams as Texas enters the weekend one game behind the Sooners in the standings.

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Oklahoma

Oklahoma State outlasts UCF in overtime, Houston next

Published

11 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Oklahoma State outlasts UCF in overtime, Houston next

ORLANDO, Fla. –

The Oklahoma State Cowboys men’s basketball bounced back in a big way Tuesday night.

Anthony Roy scored 27 points and Kanye Clary added 23, including seven in overtime, as Oklahoma State defeated the UCF Knights men’s basketball 111-104 in Orlando.

The Cowboys controlled the extra period, finishing overtime on an 11-4 run and outscoring UCF 17-10.

Clary played a major role in closing it out. He hit a key 3-pointer and went 4-for-4 from the free throw line in overtime to help seal the win.

The victory moves Oklahoma State to 18-12 overall and 6-11 in the Big 12, and gives the Cowboys two wins in their last three games after snapping a five-game losing streak. UCF, now 20-9 (9-8 Big 12), has dropped two straight.

Roy and Clary led a balanced offensive effort. Jaylen Curry and Christian Coleman each added 16 points, while the Cowboys shot 49% from the field (35-of-72) and 80% from the free throw line (32-of-40).

Themus Fulks led UCF with 22 points, while Riley Kugel added 18.

Late-game drama forces overtime

The final seconds of regulation were chaotic.

With 24 seconds remaining, Isaiah Coleman threw down a dunk to give Oklahoma State a 94-91 lead.

But UCF answered quickly when Chris Johnson hit a 3-pointer with 11 seconds left, tying the game at 94-94.

Oklahoma State had a chance to win it at the buzzer, but Jaylen Curry missed a shot, and John Bol blocked Roy’s attempt, sending the game to overtime.

Cowboys respond after tough loss

The Cowboys showed resilience after Saturday’s lopsided loss to Cincinnati.

The team traveled directly to Orlando following that defeat and was pushed through two intense practices by head coach Steve Lutz and the coaching staff.

The response was clear.

Led by Roy’s scoring and Clary’s clutch overtime performance, Oklahoma State delivered a gritty win and swept the season series against UCF

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Oklahoma

Oklahoma City police are investigating after a man was shot near Yukon

Published

1 day ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

YUKON, Okla. (KOKH) — Oklahoma City Police are investigating after a man was shot near Yukon Monday night.

The shooting happened near Northwest 10th Street and South Yukon Parkway near the border of Yukon and Oklahoma City.

Police are on the scene, and officials said the victim was transported to the hospital in critical condition with a gunshot wound to the hip.

OKCPD said they have at least one person in custody.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

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Oklahoma

Oklahoma lawmakers consider bill to require annual fee for transmission lines on private property

Published

2 days ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

Oklahoma lawmakers consider bill to require annual fee for transmission lines on private property

As consumer electricity needs grow, lawmakers are discussing strategies to ease the burden on landowners who don’t want the towers and wires carrying that energy on their property.

As it’s written now, the bill would require transmission owners to pay landowners $2 per foot of line annually. During the committee meeting, Murdock said he introduced the legislation to “start a conversation.”

“ This is an idea of, maybe moving forward, if the landowners are getting a royalty off of the power being pushed across their property, it may make it a little more palatable for someone to have a transmission line go across their property,” he said.

Landowners can enter into easement agreements with companies to set aside portions of their land for the builds. But in some cases, eminent domain is used to obtain a right-of-way.

“ I’m not saying that this is going to do away with eminent domain,” Murdock said. “What I’m hoping is this just makes it a little more palatable.”

Murdock said he spoke with utility companies about the legislation, though he didn’t name them. The bill’s language could change after creating an alternative rate based on conversations with the companies, he said.

Sen. Dave Rader, R-Tulsa, said the bill could raise utility rates for consumers living in Oklahoma’s most populous counties if companies charge more to make up for the annual fee.

Murdock pushed back, noting the lines are necessary to deliver electricity to other counties.

“You understand that you flip that light on because — and have that ability to have electricity because — the people in my district have a transmission line that goes across them, getting you that power,” he said.

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