Balanced Sooners hold on for crucial win

NORMAN — Tanner Groves couldn’t believe how much space he had.

Oklahoma earned a 72-59 home win over West Virginia on Tuesday thanks in part to a late-game push by Groves. After sinking a 3-pointer to put his team up 62-52 with 3:11 remaining, the senior center struck again on the following possession with a bucket down low.

Now up 64-54 with 1:54 left in the contest, Groves gathered a pass at the top of the arc. Despite having the hot hand, he didn’t see a Mountaineer defender in sight.

With the flick of his wrist, Groves made them pay once again by draining a 3-pointer that served as the dagger.

Groves’ deep bomb capped off a personal 8-0 run for the big man, who finished with game-highs of 17 points and 10 rebounds. Jordan Goldwire also poured in 16 points and a game-high four assists for OU (16-14, 6-11 Big 12).

Here are three takeaways from the contest:

Tanner Groves attacks the glass

Groves went up and got it.

OU trailed 3-2 with 16:32 on the clock when Jalen Hill attacked the rim. The junior forward elevated for a contested layup, and the ball bounced off the iron.

Isaiah Cottrell was in prime position to snag the defensive board for the Mountaineers, but Groves brushed the big man off before snatching the ball out of the air and sinking a putback layup.

West Virginia ultimately won the rebounding battle 32-25, but it struggled to contain Groves on the glass all night. The senior center racked up four rebounds in the first four minutes of action, and he finished the night with game-highs of 10 boards and 17 points.

After erupting for 14 points and 10 rebounds during the win over Oklahoma State on Saturday, Groves becomes the

BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN OU’s Jalen Hill drives past West Virginia’s Jalen Bridges during the first half on Tuesday in Norman.