Oklahoma 69, Albany 60

To beat Oklahoma, you have to stop Buddy Hield. But that’s only one part of the equation.

The Sooners got 18 points from forward TaShawn Thomas and 11 rebounds from forward Ryan Spangler to roll to win over Albany in the round of 64. With Hield getting so much attention, the rest of the Sooners came ready to play. OU was more aggressive from the opening tip, taking a nine-point lead into halftime and cruising the rest of the way. Albany simply didn’t have the quickness or length to deal with Oklahoma, and the Sooners barely broke a sweat.

Oklahoma has been flying under the radar this year, and the Sooners’ second-round win won’t raise any eyebrows. This is a team with a chip on its shoulder, one that could help it down the road.