Sooners, McGhee Tattoo Xavier

Don’t let the size and tattoos fool you. Even though Oklahoma’s 6-foot-8 Aaron McGhee looks like a bruiser in the paint, he’s just as comfortable lofting jumpers.

McGhee stayed out of an inside battle with Xavier big man David West, preferring to knock down outside shots, and led the Sooners to a 78-65 victory Sunday to send them to the Midwest Regional semifinals.

McGhee scored 11 of Oklahoma’s first 18 points and finished with 25 points on eight-for-16 shooting. Oklahoma (29-4) won its 10th consecutive game, and 14th in its last 15. The Sooners will play Arizona (24-9) in San Jose on Thursday.

West, a second-team All-American, scored only one field goal in the first 17 minutes, but Romain Sato, who finished with 28 points and eight rebounds, kept Xavier (26-6) afloat. He scored 16 of the Musketeers’ first 18 points, then scored again to get Xavier within two before West got into a groove.

West, who finished with 18 points and eight rebounds, scored the team’s next 10 points, tying the score, 40-40, but the Musketeers, who tied it up three more times, never led.

McGhee sank two free throws with 11:15 left to put Oklahoma up for good, then started building the lead--and getting the Oklahoma crowd into it with a short jump shot in the lane over West.Oklahoma’s Ebi Ere added 20 points, including several right after Xavier tied it, and seven rebounds.