NORMAN — Porter Moser didn’t have to look at a box score. He knew why his team fell to Texas A&M, 80-78, on Wednesday.

Turnovers.

It was the primary reason why the Sooners let an 18-point second-half lead slip away.

The Sooners committed 18 turnovers in the game, including 10 in the second half. Those turned into 30 points for Texas A&M — 24 in the second half — and that proved to be a big reason why the Aggies were able to rally.

“That was the storyline,” Moser said. “They had 30 points off turnovers.

“And (Texas A&M) did a great job. They turned all the turnovers into points. That’s the storyline, the 18 turnovers. We had 21 assists. When we did get the ball moving and popping, I thought we did some great things. But when we went too deep, they’re elite at just digging and breaking, getting their hands on it.”

Turnovers haven’t really been an issue for the Sooners this season. They came into the contest averaging under 12 per game while posting a positive turnover margin.

But the Aggies came into the game forcing over 14 turnovers per game, and it cost the Sooners. Seven different OU players committed at least one turnover. Jeremiah Fears was the primary culprit with four, while Kobe Elvis, Jalon Moore and Duke Miles all committed three.

The Sooners were able to play mostly clean basketball in the first half. They led 39-30 at halftime, and while they committed eight turnovers, that only turned into six points off turnovers for the Aggies.

However, the Sooners finished with a few too many, and it cost them at the Lloyd Noble Center. They fall to 13-2 on the season and 0-2 in SEC play.

“They had great physicality, great big plays, relentlessness by them,” Moser said. “I thought we did, too. I thought we made a lot of relentless plays.

“Just a disappointing loss to come up short. The storyline is the turnovers. You’re right, that hasn’t been an issue all year. It came out tonight against an elite, physical defensive team.”

— It appeared the story would be about Goodine’s career day. The sixth-year veteran finished the game with 34 points off the bench and made 9-of-12 attempts from downtown. He went into halftime with 21 points and six 3-pointers, contributing more than half of OU’s scoring output.

He surpassed his previous career-high for 3-pointers while also tying Hollis Price and Mookie Blaylock for most triples in a game in OU program history.

It was a huge performance for Goodine, who had scored just 17 points over the last four games on 2-of-12 shooting from deep. And while it looked like Goodine would be the hero in a much-needed win, his performance only added to the sting.

“It’s tough to have a performance like that and lose. That’s the honest answer,” Moser said. “I thought he was unbelievable.”

— The biggest gut punch came with 29 seconds left in the game.

With the Sooners leading by one, Fears grabbed a huge rebound and was fouled, sending him to the free throw lline for a one-and-one. He missed the front end, keeping the lead at one.

15 seconds later, Zhuric Phelps hit the game-winning 3-pointer and his sixth of the night.

Fears finished with 13 points (4-of-8 shooting), four rebounds and four assists.

— While Goodine was hot early, the Aggies were not. They shot just 34% in the first half and 1-of-7 from deep.

That completely flipped in the second half. The Aggies shot 53% from the field and made 8-of-16 from downtown. 14 of their 17 second-half baskets came on either layups or dunks as they constantly feasted on OU’s turnovers.

— The Aggies, which came into the game leading the country in offensive rebounds, finished with 17. They scored 10 second-chance points.

— Up next: The Sooners travel to Georgia for a 5 p.m. tipoff on Saturday.

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AUSTIN – Texas Governor Greg Abbott will be briefed Wednesday morning on the latest in the severe winter weather that will affect a large area of the state. He will then hold a news conference in Austin around 10:30 a.m. to announce any updates.

The Governor will be joined by Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd, Texas Department of Transportation Deputy Executive Director Brian Barth, Electric Reliability Council of Texas CEO Pablo Vegas, Public Utility Commission Chair Thomas Gleeson, and other state officials and emergency management personnel.

Get news, weather and so much more on the new FOX LOCAL app 

Winter Storm Warning

What we know:

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for parts of North Central and Northeast Texas from 6 a.m. Thursday until Noon on Friday. 

The National Weather Service expects heavy mixed precipitation with a transition to all snow on Thursday evening. Total snow accumulations will be between 2 and 4 inches. The NWS says isolated snowfall amounts could top 8 inches within more intense bands of snow.

Another aspect of a warning is what this weather will impact. Travel could be very difficult for the Thursday morning and evening commutes. 

RELATED STORY: Dallas weather: Winter storm watch upgraded to warning, when to expect snow tomorrow

State Emergency Response Resources

Governor Greg Abbott on Tuesday directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to increase the readiness level of the Texas State Operations Center (SOC) to Level II (Escalated Response) ahead of winter weather expected to impact the state, with the greatest impacts beginning Wednesday through the weekend.

What they’re saying:

“With below-freezing temperatures beginning to impact large portions of the state, Texas is increasing the readiness level of the State Operations Center to ensure resources are swiftly deployed to communities,” said Governor Abbott. “As the State of Texas mobilizes the emergency response resources Texans need to stay safe and warm, I urge everyone to remain weather-aware, regularly monitor road conditions before traveling, and heed guidance from state and local officials. I thank all the first responders and emergency management personnel for their efforts to help Texas communities brace for winter weather.”

Winter Storm Watch

The National Weather Service has also issued a Winter Storm Watch which remains in effect from now through Friday night.

What they’re saying:

Heavy mixed precipitation is possible with a transition to snow expected late Thursday. Total snow and sleet accumulations of up to two inches and ice accumulations of around one tenth of an inch are possible.

Roads, and especially bridges and overpasses, will likely become slick and hazardous. Travel could be very difficult. The hazardous conditions could impact the Thursday morning and evening commutes.

Dig deeper:

Texans can locate winter weather safety tips by visiting TexasReady.gov, find warming centers opened and operated by local officials at tdem.texas.gov/warm, and check road conditions at DriveTexas.org.

For the first time since December of 2017, Texas A&M basketball is ranked inside the top 10 in national polls.

The Aggies manhandled the rival Texas Longhorns on Saturday and surged up the rankings. They sit ninth in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll and 10th in the AP Poll, released Sunday.

Despite national recognition, the Aggies know they have a lot of work to do if they’re going to stay there, and the next challenge will be daunting. Wednesday night, the Aggies travel to Norman to take on the No. 16 Oklahoma Sooners (13-1, 0-1) in their first SEC road test of the year.

WATCH MULTIPLE TEXAS A&M GAMES HERE

No. 9 Texas A&M (12-2, 1-0) won eight games in a row and will put the streak to the test against a good Sooners team looking to bounce back from a 107-79 loss to the No. 5 Alabama Crimson Tide.

Now, the Aggies are fully entrenched in a grueling conference schedule. Can Texas A&M continue their winning ways Wednesday on the road against Oklahoma? Here’s what you need to know for the matchup:

AGGIES: Texas A&M vs Texas: Aggies use second-half surge for Lone Star Showdown win

Texas A&M vs Oklahoma time

Day: Wednesday

Start time: 8 p.m.

Location: Lloyd Noble Center in Norman.

How to watch Texas A&M vs Oklahoma

TV channel: SEC Network

Livestream: Fubo, ESPN+, SEC+

Aggies capitalizing on ‘mature group’

Texas A&M entered the season returning 78% of last year’s total production. That familiarity in Buzz Williams’ sixth season has allowed the Aggies to flourish early this year. With experience a clear advantage for A&M, the team’s maturity has allowed them to get off to the start they’ve had.

“We have a very mature group. We have a group that has really good character, and that’s important. When we’re together, our ideas have to be based on the truth,” Williams said on his weekly radio show Monday.

AGGIES FB TRANSFER PORTAL: Texas A&M football: Analyzing Aggies’ top-rated transfer portal class

A&M’s starting five against Texas (Wade Taylor, Zhuric Phelps, Hayden Hefner, Solomon Thomas, Henry Coleman III) have combined to play 460 games for the program, and that familiarity has helped the Aggies play well together when it matters most.

“The margins are just so thin. You always have to figure out a way to get better,” Williams said Monday. “We’re thankful for Saturday. There’s very little margin over the next nine weeks.”

Texas A&M vs. Oklahoma prediction

Twenty-point wins will be hard to come by in the SEC this season, and the Aggies know it. Wednesday against the Sooners will provide A&M with another measuring stick game, a test they’ve continued to pass. I expect it will be much closer than the Longhorns game was, with Texas A&M finding a way to grind out a one-possession road win over Oklahoma, 77-74.

Reach Texas A&M Beat Reporter Tony Catalina via email at ACatalina@gannett.com. Follow the American-Statesman on Facebook and X for more. Your subscription makes work like this possible. Get access to all of our best content with this tremendous offer.