Oklahoma had no business hanging with West Virginia down the stretch in the Big 12 Tournament semifinals Friday night.
The No. 2-seeded Mountaineers had stifled the No. 3-seeded Sooners with their press and relentless defense. Led by Jevon Carter's 26 points on 6-of-9 shooting from behind the arc, West Virginia should have strolled into the championship game against Kansas.
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But OU rallied after trailing for most of the game, as it has done time and time again this season. Even when the game seemed all but over — down 69-67 with less than two seconds left and the ball under their own basket — the Sooners called upon SN Player of the Year Buddy Hield, who did the unthinkable.
Hield hoisted a halfcourt shot as the horn sounded.
Hield's shot #Oklahoma #Buddy pic.twitter.com/24LdPeXkTf
— Nick Jacobs (@Jacobs71) March 12, 2016
Unfortunately for Sooner fans, the referees reviewed the play and determined that Hield was still in possession of the ball when the clock struck double-zero, meaning the Mountaineers had survived and advanced 69- 67, though by the slimmest of margins.