The Oklahoma Sooners tend to play well when Buddy Hield plays well.  In the first half, the opposite seemed to happen.  Hield was held to just seven points through the first twenty minutes as he missed time after picking up his second foul.  Oklahoma scored early and often as they pushed their lead to thirteen heading into intermission.  In the second half, the Rams of Virginia Commonwealth started making a run.  Melvin Johnson opened up the half with two straight three-point field goals to get the Rams going.  Buddy Hield no longer found himself in foul trouble and instantly started scoring and scoring at will.  VCU did manage to tie the game up at 59 with eleven minutes to play, taking its first lead 65-63 on two free throws from Michael Gilmore.  This was a lead for VCU, but the lead would be evanescent.  Hield would instantly respond with a three to give the Sooners a lead they wouldn’t lose.  Hield, the sharp-shooter from the Bahamas, poured in 29 points in the second half en route to a game high 36 points to lead Oklahoma to back-to-back Sweet Sixteen appearances in 2015 and now 2016.   Jordan Woodward and Isaiah Cousins also had good games for Oklahoma.  Woodward added 15 points while Cousins notched 15.  VCU was led by Melvin Johnson who would end his great career as a Ram by scoring a team high 23 points.  JeQuan Lewis poured in 22 points of his own and Mo Alie-Cox added 10.

Oklahoma will advance to take on the Aggies of Texas A&M, who recently pulled off an amazing comeback just to be playing in the Sweet Sixteen.