LOS ANGELES — Oklahoma is best known for having the nation’s second-highest scoring offense. It was the Sooners’ physicality on defense and ability to control the paint though that allowed them to advance over Portland in the NCAA Tournament.
Fifth-seeded Oklahoma outrebounded Portland by 16 and held the No. 12 seed Pilots to 37.7% percent shooting from the field in an 85-63 victory Saturday night in a first-round game.
“We like to establish the paint. That’s one of our main focuses on the offensive and defensive end. Just being aggressive early and playing from inside out,” said Taylor Robertson, who had 14 points. “We were able to execute that pretty well today.”
Aubrey Joens also scored 14 points as the Sooners took control in the third quarter. Oklahoma (26-6) will face the winner of No. 4 seed UCLA and 13th-seeded Sacramento State in Monday’s second round. The winner will advance to the Greenville 1 regional.