Oklahoma ousts No. 8 Alabama for fourth win over a top-10 team this month

NORMAN, Okla. — Playing without a pair of starters, including leading scorer Austin Reaves, Oklahoma found a way to win against a top-10 opponent once again, building a lead and then holding on late for a 66-61 win over No. 8 Alabama in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge at Lloyd Noble Center on Saturday.

The Sooners have now won a season-high five consecutive games, each of the last three over top-10 opponents.

According to ESPN Stats & Info, Oklahoma is the first team since 1974 to win four regular-season games over top-10 opponents in the same month.

Here are three other observations from the win:

Big defense late

Alabama had hurt the Sooners from the perimeter in stretches but in the closing minutes, Oklahoma came up big defensively.

The Crimson Tide missed its last eight shots, not making a field goal in the final four minutes.

Early in the game, the Sooners' defense was keyed by turnovers.

Late, though, it was mostly about strong one-on-one defense along the perimeter that limited Alabama's looks.

Manek heats up

Since returning from COVID-19, Brady Manek hasn't had much of an offensive impact, averaging just four points per game in the last three.

Manek's Saturday didn't start out much better, as he went 1 for 7 from the floor over the game's first 27 minutes.

But then the senior came alive, scoring eight consecutive Oklahoma points during a 12-1 run that put the Sooners up 52-41.

Getting Manek going offensively could be a big boost for the Sooners hopes of a postseason run.

While Oklahoma has found renewed defensive energy with Elijah Harkless in the starting lineup instead of Manek, Manek is a difficult matchup when he's shooting well.

ANALYSIS:College basketball blueboods are struggling. Are one-and-dones to blame?

LEGEND:Hall-of-Fame Temple basketball coach John Chaney dies at 89

APPRECIATION:Chaney's impact goes way beyond his success coaching basketball

Hot start, even shorthanded

Playing without Reaves, their leading scorer, and Alondes Williams, the Sooners leaned heavily on defense early to help create on the offensive end.

Oklahoma built a quick 11-2 lead in the first with the help of five early Alabama turnovers.

By the time the game was 7:20 in, the Crimson Tide had turned the ball over eight times.

Alabama took care of the ball the rest of the half, though, with just two more turnovers by halftime.

The Sooners went into an offensive lull after hitting 5 of their first 9, following that with a 1 of 14 stretch.

Oklahoma regained its footing before halftime, though, hitting 6 of 7 to take a 32-29 lead into halftime.