In an empty Erwin Center, the No. 4 Texas Longhorns fell short when a last-second play resulted in a turnover, ending a late comeback attempt against the No. 24 Oklahoma Sooners on Tuesday as Texas couldn’t overcome a nine-point halftime deficit.
Without head coach Shaka Smart, junior guard Courtney Ramey, redshirt sophomore guard Brock Cunningham, and senior forward Jericho Sims, Texas was down to eight scholarship players.
Against an Oklahoma team that draws fouls at a high rate and converts at the free-throw line at a high rate, the goal for associate head coach KT Turner in his first game handling head-coaching duties was to defend without fouling.