OU, Mizzou meet in First Round

Published Mar. 19, 2021 7:45 a.m. ET

Associated Press

No. 9 seed Missouri (16-9) vs. No. 8 seed Oklahoma (15-10)

NCAA Tournament First Round, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis; Saturday, 6:25 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: Missouri and Oklahoma will meet in a NCAA first round battle. Oklahoma lost 69-62 to Kansas on March 11, while Missouri fell 70-64 against Arkansas last week.

STEPPING UP: The do-everything Austin Reaves has averaged 16.3 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.3 assists to lead the charge for the Sooners. De'Vion Harmon is also a top contributor, putting up 12.9 points per game. The Tigers have been led by Dru Smith, who is averaging 14.1 points and two steals.

SPARKING THE OFFENSE: D. Smith has directly created 41 percent of all Missouri field goals over the last five games. The senior guard has 23 field goals and 26 assists in those games.

WINLESS WHEN: Oklahoma is 0-6 this year when it scores 65 points or fewer and 15-4 when it scores at least 66.

SHARING THE BURDEN: Missouri is a perfect 7-0 when at least four of its players score 10 or more points. The team is 9-9 when fewer than four Tigers players score in double-figures.

DID YOU KNOW: Oklahoma has committed a turnover on just 15.9 percent of its possessions this season, which is the best rate among all Big 12 teams. The Sooners have turned the ball over only 11.1 times per game this season.

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