By CLIFF BRUNT
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Oklahoma’s Buddy Hield (24) celebrates after a 72-66 win over Dayton in an NCAA tournament college basketball game in the Round of 32 in Columbus, Ohio, Sunday, March 22, 2015. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
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Oklahoma’s Buddy Hield, left, and Frank Booker celebrate after defeating Dayton 72-66 in an NCAA tournament college basketball game in the Round of 32 in Columbus, Ohio, Sunday, March 22, 2015. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Oklahoma’s Buddy Hield thrives in late-game situations.
The Big 12 Player of the Year might need to deliver again when Oklahoma faces Michigan State on Friday night for a trip to the Elite Eight.
With Oklahoma up four points and just over a minute remaining against Dayton in the round of 32, Hield missed a handoff from point guard Jordan Woodard, leading to a Dayton fast break. Hield got back and stuffed Darrell Davis’ layup attempt with 1:02 remaining. Oklahoma held on and advanced.
He had made big plays before. He drained two 3-pointers in overtime during a win at Texas Tech after going 1 for 10 from the field in regulation, and his putback with 0.2 seconds left gave Oklahoma a 75-73 win over Kansas.