The homecoming could not have been much happier for Oklahoma guard Buddy Hield. A native of Freeport, Bahamas, Hield scored a game-high 24 points, including 17 in the second half, to help lead the Sooners to a 75-65 comeback victory over UCLA.
“I’ve been thinking about this for a long time,” Hield said of the Sooners’ being in the Battle 4 Atlantis field. “It’s special to come in and play in front of my family and friends. I started off struggling a little bit, but they stuck with me and I stayed confident. I had the crowd behind me, and I was able to step up and knock some shots down.”
Hield was only 3-for-10 from the field and 1-for-6 from 3-point range in the first half, though Oklahoma coach Lon Kruger said the slow start was due more to enthusiasm than to nerves.
“I don’t know if he sensed any pressure as much as he sensed the excitement,” Kruger said. “I felt like early on he played maybe a little too amped up. You kind of expect that and you have to work through it. But he settled in and really did a nice job.”
While Hield said his teammates encouraged him to keep shooting in the second half, it was the vocal support of his brother from the stands that truly allowed him to maintain confidence.
“My brother is my biggest supporter. I could hear him shouting louder than anybody,” Hield said. “I thought, ‘I can’t let him down.’ I just stayed aggressive and tried to make shots.”
Hield still had only 10 points with nine minutes left in the game, and UCLA held a 57-49 lead, when Hield suddenly got hot. He made three 3-pointers and scored 14 points in less than seven minutes, sparking the Sooners (3-1) on a game-ending 26-8 run.“Buddy made some critical shots there at the right times,” Kruger said. “I’m really happy to see that for him. He’s such a great kid who works so hard every day. To come home and celebrate a win like that, I’m very happy for him.”
Bryce Alford, the son of UCLA coach Steve Alford, led the Bruins in scoring with 19 points, while Kevon Looney added 16 points and 15 rebounds. But UCLA (4-1) made only 9-of-21 foul shots and went 4-for-17 from 3-point range.
“I like the way our guys competed. We’re seeing a lot of positive things,” Steve Alford said. “We didn’t get the job done at the free throw line … but the shooting will get corrected with this team.
“That’s what this whole process is. … We’re not going to be the team we want to be on Thanksgiving. But through the experiences we’re getting (at Battle 4 Atlantis) over Thanksgiving, those are going to help us get through the process and to the place we want to be.”
About Atlantis, Paradise Island resort, The Bahamas
Atlantis, Paradise Island is a unique, ocean-themed destination located on Paradise Island, The Bahamas, and features a variety of accommodations, all built around a 141-acre waterscape comprised of over 20 million gallons of fresh and saltwater lagoons, pools and habitats. Home to the largest open-air marine habitat in the world, there are over 50,000 marine animals in lagoons and displays, including The Dig, a maze of underwater corridors and passageways providing a journey through ancient Atlantis. Atlantis is home to Aquaventure, a non-stop water experience consisting of thrilling water slides, a mile-long river ride with high intensity rapids and wave surges, and never-before-seen special effects. Dolphin Cay, the resort’s interaction and education center, was created with the goal of enlightening visitors about the wonders of these remarkable ocean inhabitants. The Cove Atlantis, a 600-room resort, features oversized rooms with a step down living space, spectacular designs by acclaimed interior architects Jeffrey Beers and David Rockwell, unprecedented services and amenities, private all adult and family pools, lavish cabanas and breathtaking views of the ocean. Atlantis is also known as THE culinary destination in The Caribbean with a collection of restaurants from world-renowned chefs including Nobu Matsuhisa, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Bobby Flay and Todd English. The resort boasts an impressive collection of luxury boutiques and shops, casino, and the largest conference center, meeting and convention facilities in The Caribbean.
For further information about Atlantis, Paradise Island; call 954-809-2000 or visit AtlantisBahamas.com. For reservations, call your travel agent or 800-ATLANTIS.
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