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Heading into the evening on a five game winning streak, the Oklahoma Sooners hoped to down a Kansas State squad riding a five game losing streak. Before all was said and done, the officiating took center stage while college basketball fans mocked the Big XII refs throughout the duration of the game. Leading the majority of the way, Oklahoma eventually fell to Kansas State on a clutch Marcus Foster three pointer for the second time this season.
With seconds remaining in regulation, Isaiah Cousins began to make his way up the floor hoping to get off the game tying shot. Instead, Bruce Weber elected to foul the junior guard sending him to the free throw line. Already in the double bonus, Cousins missed the first leading to this wild play...
You don't ever practice stuff like this https://t.co/UNbd7vmg6n
— CC Machine (@CCMachine) February 15, 2015
Unable to secure the rebound, Oklahoma's five game winning streak snapped with a 56-59 loss.
After serving a three game suspension, Foster came off the bench and hit shots when KSU needed it most. Leading the way with 14 points, Foster and the rest of gang found themselves at the free throw line 36 times connecting on 28 of those attempts. Although the team shot a miserable 26.5% from the floor, remaining composed at the charity stripe delivered the game into their hands.
On the other end of the court, Oklahoma failed to find their range. A typical decent three point shooting team, Buddy Hield (14 points) and the rest of the crew shot 17.6% from beyond the arc. However, the lack of trips to the free throw line doomed this group from the get go. Unable to consistently get to the line, the Sooners shot 17 total free throws, a far cry from their opponent.
Ryan Spangler fouling out certainly didn't help the situation as Lon Kruger knows this program lacks depth in its current state. Adding his name to the list of players in foul trouble, Khadeem Lattin picked up four fouls in six minutes of play giving way to D.J. Bennett. One could easily credit the foul trouble as the reason Oklahoma was outrebounded 27-36 on the night.
Hats off to Bruce Weber and the Wildcats for bringing an uncharacteristic but physical mindset to the game.
On a postive note, Isaiah Cousins may be the best perimeter defender in the league. Constantly getting his hands on the ball, Cousins made inbounds passes a nightmare for KSU. On a single tip that ricocheted off a Wildcat could have won the game for the Sooners. But, two terrible possessions sealed OU's fate.