NORMAN, Okla. -- With the game well in hand, four of top-ranked Oklahoma's starters came out of the game with less than three minutes remaining in Tuesday's eventual 91-67 win over Texas Tech.
Isaiah Cousins, Khadeem Lattin, Ryan Spangler and Jordan Woodard left the floor to a strong applause from the crowd of 8,207 at Lloyd Noble Center.
A few seconds later, after making the second of two free throws to hit the 30-point mark for the seventh time this season, Buddy Hield joined them in taking the rest of the night off.
Hield, the Big 12's leading scorer and a leading candidate for national player of the year honors, received a standing ovation after yet another memorable performance during his senior season.
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Last season, Hield led the Sooners (17-2, 6-2 Big 12) in scoring thanks to how many shots he took. This season, Hield is among the nation's best scorers because of how efficient he is offensively.
Against the Red Raiders, Hield was nine of 12 from the floor and five of eight from behind the 3-point line.
"His big scoring games, he's been very efficient," Sooners coach Lon Kruger said. "When he gets the opportunity, he's making shots. He's moving the ball. When he moves the ball, teammates are making shots. It's very rare that a scorer like that is as efficient as Buddy has been."
He has shot at least 50 percent from behind the 3-point line in each of his last seven games and in 12 of his last 13.
Hield had some added motivation Tuesday as Randy Rolle, the consulate general of his native Bahamas, was in Oklahoma to watch Hield play.
"He told me to keep being a role model for kids back home," Hield said. "He told me he appreciated what I'm doing for the country."
Hield took control of the game about nine minutes in, making three 3-pointers -- all from well behind the arc-in the span of a little under three minutes as the Sooners ripped off a 14-4 run to extend the lead to double figures for the first time.
"I just thought I was due for a couple," Hield said. "I felt confident shooting it. I knew if I missed them coach would be on my butt. Thank God I made them.
"Isaiah (Cousins) gave me one when I was trailing him too. It's confidence really."
It's not just Hield who is shooting with confidence.
Oklahoma's three guards -- Hield, Cousins and Woodard -- combined to shoot 21 of 35 from the floor and score 64 points.
Cousins added 19 and Woodard 15.
After starting conference play in a slump, shooting 26.3 percent in Oklahoma's first five conference games, Cousins has snapped out of it in his last three.
During that span, Cousins is shooting 22 of 32 (68.8 percent) from the floor.
"My teammates gave me confidence to just keep shooting," Cousins said. "I've been making shots when I'm open. It comes naturally because of all the work I've put in. I just thought, 'One game it's gonna go.'"
For Texas Tech (12-7, 2-6), it was the sixth loss in seven games.
Justin Gray led the Red Raiders with 20 points.
Two seasons ago, Tubby Smith's Texas Tech team upset a Sooners team that started four of the same starters they started Tuesday.
Hield, Cousins, Woodard and Spangler have now started 87 consecutive games together.
"That's why they're such a good team," Smith said. "Winning breeds winning and that helps a lot."
Oklahoma had 13 assists and just seven turnovers.
"What may go a little unnoticed is how well guys are passing the ball," Kruger said. "They're not just moving it to the next guy but they're giving it to him in a good spot accurately and in a good rhythm so guys are shooting shots in a good rhythm. That makes a big difference as a shooter. Guys are not only making the extra pass but an accurate extra pass."
NOTES: Oklahoma F Khadeem Lattin had a career-high eight blocks, six in the first half. ... It was Oklahoma's first home game as the AP No. 1 team since Feb. 22, 1989, when the Sooners beat Kansas State 86-82. That Wildcats team was coached by current Sooners coach Lon Kruger. ... Austin Grandstaff, who transferred to Oklahoma from Ohio State earlier this month, was on the bench for the first time. Grandstaff, a freshman guard, will be eligible in time for conference play next season. ... The Big 12 takes a break from conference play this weekend for the Big 12/SEC Challenge. Oklahoma plays at LSU in a battle of national player of the year candidates Buddy Hield of the Sooners and Ben Simmons of LSU. ... Texas Tech plays at Arkansas.
