Three-overtime classic between Oklahoma, Kansas to be shown on Cox 22

Watching the instant-classic triple-overtime game Monday night between No. 1 Kansas and No. 2 Oklahoma brought Maryland coach Mark Turgeon back to his years as a player and graduate assistant in Lawrence, Kan.

“Craziest game I’ve ever been a part of”, said Frank Mason, who forced Hield’s final turnover and made two free throws for the final margin. The 13th-ranked Cyclones went into Norman on Saturday and led Oklahoma most of the way before falling 87-83 in a game played at a level pretty close to OU-KU.

The Big 12 matchup between the Kansas Jayhawks and the Oklahoma Sooners was going to be a big matchup when the game was first scheduled between two of the favorites in the conference.

Oklahoma: Hield played 54 minutes, Spangler played 51 and Woodard 50.

BLACKSBURG, Va. – Zach LeDay scored 18 of his 22 points in the second half and blocked London Perrantes’ attempt to tie the score in the final seconds and Virginia Tech stunned No. 4 Virginia 70-68.

Kansas ultimately prevailed, 109-106, in a clean, crisp and beautifully played game that included just 30 total turnovers and 44 fouls in 55 minutes. Mason’s first steal setup two made free throws by sophomore guard Devonte’ Graham which put Kansas on top, 107-106, with 15 seconds remaining. Behind a strong performance by big man Perry Ellis, the Jayhawks jumped out to a big lead, but Buddy Hield and the Sooners weren’t going to be denied.

As the cheerleaders rushed the floor and the Jayhawks celebrated around him, Hield walked alone on the far side of the court as his teammates lined up after the 109-106 loss – the first triple overtime matchup between the nation’s top two teams since 1957, when Wilt Chamberlain played for the Jayhawks. With the Sooners up 1 with 21 seconds to go, Hield drove and looked to kick to Jordan Woodard as he relocated. Those rankings depended on which poll you were looking at yesterday as the USA Today Coaches Poll and BCSNN / USBWA Polls had the Sooners as the top-ranked team. With 2.4 seconds left and the game tied at 86, the Jayhawks’ Frank Mason III was on the baseline about to get the ball from an official to inbound.

The Jayhawks controlled most of the first half, hitting seven 3-pointers and twice taking an 11-point lead. Preseason favorites like North Carolina, Kentucky, and Duke have stumbled out of the gate a bit, and injuries have hurt teams hurt teams like Gonzaga and Michigan State.

Kansas was led by Perry Ellis, who had 27 points and 13 rebounds. It was a highly controversial call, given the time in the game and the fact that most officials generally don’t like to have the final outcome of a game decided on a foul call. West Virginia is ranked 17th after a 12-1 start.

The game was the longest in series history between the two teams. But it was his 3-pointer when the Jayhawks had established a 32-21 lead late in the first half that once more changed the complexion of the game. Almost everyone has lost at least one game heading into the conference schedule.

Phillip finished with 18 points, while Jonathan Holton had 15 for the Mountaineers.

KU didn’t stop Hield much at all (obviously), though I thought Mason did a solid job on him in the second half – even after Mason picked up his fourth foul, which happened with 22 seconds left in regulation.