13 Proves Lucky for Oklahoma

The Oklahoma Sooners are tired of telling everybody how good they really are. So, they’ll just keep showing everyone.

Oklahoma had 13 three-point baskets in defeating North Carolina Charlotte, 85-72, on Sunday in the Midwest Regional and becoming only the third No. 13-seeded team to reach the NCAA tournament’s round of 16.

The Sooners (22-10) have insisted they deserved a higher seed and proved their point against the fifth-seeded 49ers (23-11) two days after eliminating fourth-seeded Arizona.

“I’m tired of saying they are never given the credit they are due,” said Coach Kelvin Sampson, whose team received the last at-large berth to the tournament despite a second-place Big 12 finish and road wins at Oklahoma State, Missouri and Texas--all of which were seeded higher.

“But you know what? Sweet 16 gives our program that credit. It’s validation.”

Despite not having a true post player or a consistent inside game, Oklahoma advanced to the round of 16 for the first time since 1989. The Sooners had lost first-game games in four previous tournaments under Sampson.

“Being a 13th seed, I’m sure a lot of teams looked over us,” said Eric Martin, who scored all of his 18 points on three-point baskets. “We’ve beaten great teams all year, and still, no respect. But it comes down to just playing ball no matter whether you’re a one seed or a 16 seed.”

Since the NCAA tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985, the only two other No. 13-seeded teams to reach the round of 16 were Richmond in 1988 and Valparaiso last year.

Martin, who fouled out with 3:19 left, had four three-point baskets in the first seven minutes to help Oklahoma take a 21-5 lead.

Oklahoma went the next six minutes without scoring, but Charlotte managed only three free throws in that span. Martin ended the Sooner drought by making a shot from 25 feet with 7:02 left.

As Sampson said before the game, “People in Oklahoma have a term for us. It’s ‘ugly.’ ”

Charlotte was even uglier in falling behind 37-22 at halftime. The 49ers missed 18 of their first 20 shots and had a span of 12 minutes in which they didn’t have a basket.

When Kedric Smith made a three-point basket with four minutes left, Charlotte was only behind 70-63. But Jobey Thomas missed the front end of a one-and-one and 49ers never got closer as the Sooners made 13 of 20 free throws in the final three minutes.

Oklahoma plays Michigan State (31-4)--the Midwest Regional’s No. 1-seeded team--Friday in St. Louis. A Sooner victory in that game could make believers out of a lot of people.