The Oklahoma men’s basketball team ended January on a five-game winning streak with three of those wins being against teams in the top 10 —  Kansas Jayhawks, Texas Longhorns, and the Alabama Crimson Tide. 

“The Sooners have played really well over the past two weeks,” OCCC student, Daxton Yandell said. 

The Sooners clashed with the ninth ranked Kansas Jayhawks Jan. 23 and came out with the victory 75-68. 

Sooners sophomore guard De’Vion Harmon led the game in scoring with 22 points. 

Jan 26, Oklahoma traveled to Austin,Texas, to take on the fifth ranked Texas Longhorns. This rivalry game went all the way down to the wire. 

Both teams didn’t shoot well from the three point line, with the Sooners shooting 25.9% and the Longhorns shooting 24%. 

The Sooners maintained the lead throughout the game, and always had an answer to a Longhorns’ run. 

Oklahoma senior guard Austin Reaves and sophomore guard De’Vion Harmon combined for the 36 points.

Reaves was crucial for the Sooners, and came up clutch when he knocked down two big free throws late in the second half. Reaves is shooting 87% from the free throw line in the season.

The Sooners held off the Longhorns 80-79. 

Reaves is leading the team this season in points, rebounds, and assists.

The next game up for Oklahoma was the ninth-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide on Jan.30.

Oklahoma was without starters, Austin Reaves and senior guard Alondes Williams because of the COVID protocols.

Oklahoma’s defense was the main story of that game, forcing the Tide to turn the ball over 16 times while shooting under 40% in the game. 

The Sooners ended the game with nine steals.

With Reaves and Williams being out, others had to step up and attempt to fill that role, and they did just that. 

Elijah Harkless, junior guard for the Sooners, finished the game with 14 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals. 

Harmon had a game high 18 points to lead his team to a 66-61 defeat over the Alabama Crimson Tide.