LUBBOCK, Texas — Blake Griffin scored 20 points and grabbed 19 rebounds in his first game back from a concussion, leading No. 3 Oklahoma to a 78-63 over Texas Tech on Saturday.
The Sooners never trailed, but Tech got within 50-49 midway through the second half. The Sooners, though, pulled away steadily after that for the win, which ended a two-game skid.
Griffin did not play in the Sooners’ loss to No. 15 Kansas on Monday night, and was injured in the first half of their loss to Texas last week.
Taylor Griffin, Blake’s brother, added 22 points for the Sooners (26-3, 12-2 Big 12)
The loss was the sixth straight for Tech (12-16, 2-12). John Roberson scored 17 points to lead Tech.
Blake Griffin, who hit on half of his 18 attempts from the field, and played with his usual intensity and abandon.
He went airborne sideways to chase down a loose ball, diving over the scorer’s table near the Red Raiders’ bench to try to shovel the ball back into play.
He landed on the ground in his unsuccessful try but bounced back up a couple of seconds later to a round of applause from Texas Tech fans.
Griffin also went down hard on his back early in the first half while fighting for a rebound with Michael Prince.
Behind 46-37, Tech used a 12-4 run, including five points from Roberson to cut the deficit to a point with about 10 minutes remaining. Slowly, though, the Sooners built back a lead. Omar Leary and Austin Johnson hit 3s, and Taylor Griffin got two buckets to put Oklahoma up 66-55 at the 4:30 mark.
Griffin got his 23rd double-double of the season before halftime. It was repeat of OU’s previous outing game against Tech earlier in February.
Griffin pulled down his 10th rebound with 42 seconds remaining in the half after Alan Voskuil missed an easy layup.
He notched his 12th point a couple minutes earlier off an assist from Johnson that found him wide open under the basket for a easy dunk. He finished the half with 14 points.
The Sooners got up by 10 twice in the first half but the Red Raiders battled back, using a 7-2 run to whittle the deficit to 26-21.
Oklahoma led 35-28 at halftime.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
