'It just came to him': OU's Otega Oweh has career night in win vs. Mississippi Valley State

NORMAN — After euro-stepping around a defender for a nifty layup, Otega Oweh could be seen smiling as he got back on defense.

And for good reason.

OU earned an 82-43 home win over Mississippi Valley State on Friday, and Oweh shined. The sophomore finished with a career-high 20 points to go along with six rebounds and three steals.

"He’s not pressing, and I want him to continue," head coach Porter Moser said. "I’m gonna continue to emphasize that. Let it come to you. ... It just came to him."

It was a dazzling performance by Oweh, who’s off to a strong start to the new campaign.

Despite only averaging 4.8 points as a freshman last season, he’s averaging 19 points per game on 66.7% shooting from the floor through the first two games. He's also 2 for 2 from deep.

"It is (encouraging)," Moser said of Oweh's hot start. "He did what you’re supposed to do: get better in the offseason. And you’re older, you’re another year where you’re more comfortable. And he just seems that way.

"We've just got to keep him going and really just let it come to him."

OU (2-0) continues its season with a home game against Texas State (0-1) at 7 p.m. Tuesday. Here are three takeaways from the win:

More: OU's Javian McCollum showed 'confidence' in season-opening win vs. Central Michigan

Sam Godwin, Sooners flip the script on the offensive glass

In the days leading up to Friday’s contest, Sam Godwin said OU was placing an emphasis on winning the battle on the offensive glass.

That was evident from the first possession.

Le’Tre Darthard couldn’t connect on a corner 3-pointer, but Oweh gathered the offensive rebound. And when Oweh couldn’t connect on a chip shot, Godwin came flying in for a putback dunk.

OU finished with 20 offensive rebounds, which it converted into 20 second-chance points. Godwin led the charge with 11 rebounds, seven on the offensive glass, to go along with 12 points.

"I'll give a great shoutout to my teammate, Sam Godwin," redshirt junior John Hugley IV said. "Just a monster on the glass. ... Sam is a phenomenal player, a phenomenal rebounder."

Mississippi Valley State only recorded seven offensive boards. It was a complete turnaround from the Sooners’ season opener on Monday.

Despite earning a comfortable 89-59 win over Central Michigan, OU got crushed on the offensive glass. The Chippewas snagged 14 offensive boards compared to the Sooners’ five.

“We talked so much about flipping the script on the rebounding," Moser said. "We had 20 (offensive rebounds), and we held them to seven. So I love that."

More: Five things to know about OU men's basketball team for 2023-24 season

OU showcases its veteran depth

Rivaldo Soares came into the game ready to shoot the ball, which is exactly what the Sooners needed.

OU held a 9-7 lead with 13:46 left in the first half, but it hadn't made a field goal in nearly three minutes. And as Javian McCollum pushed the ball up the floor following a Mississippi Valley State turnover, Soares held his hand up high to call for a pass.

Soares got his wish, and he quickly pulled up for a transition 3-pointer that found the bottom of the net.

The deep bomb came during a 9-0 run by OU, and Soares accounted for seven of those points. The senior guard finished with 11 points and seven rebounds off the bench.

An Oregon transfer, Soares is just one of the many newcomers who provides veteran depth for OU.

Hugley is a redshirt junior Pittsburgh transfer who recorded nine points and four rebounds. And while Darthard came off the bench in the season opener, the senior Utah Valley transfer started on Friday in replacement of Jalon Moore (hamstring) and poured in 10 points and three assists.

After scoring 32 bench points against Central Michigan, OU recorded 30 points in that department on Friday. The Sooners have depth, and that’s thanks in large part to their added vets.

"It's just bringing value," Darthard said. "Coach (Moser) says don't count your minutes. Make your minutes count. I feel like whenever we step in, we're a deep team, as you can see. We're just trying to add value and just keep pouring it on the opponent."

More: OU men's basketball: Breaking down the Sooners' roster for the 2023-24 season

OU dominates down low

Maks Klanjscek likes to let it fly.

That's why the senior guard averaged a career-high 15 points last season at Houston Christian. But as Klanjscek caught a pass on the right wing in the closing minutes of Friday's contest, he passed up a clean look.

Klanjscek instead zipped a pass down low to Yaya Keita, who finished with a defender draped over him.

That play told the story of the night for OU, which nearly outscored Mississippi Valley State with just points in the paint. The Sooners recorded 38 points from down low.

OU's strong finishing around the rim made up for a subpar showing from behind the arc. After going 9-for-20 from 3-point range (45%) in their season opener, the Sooners went 9-for-31 (29%) in that department on Friday.

“I thought we had a lot of good, open threes," Moser said. "I was clapping. We moved the ball against the zone. We spaced it. We just missed a lot of them."

More: OU women's basketball: Breaking down the Sooners' roster for the 2023-24 season

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU basketball beats Mississippi Valley State as Otega Oweh scores 20