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Griffin's monster performance helps Oklahoma cruise

Feb 15, 2009 - 12:03 AM NORMAN, Oklahoma (Ticker) -- Blake Griffin terminated Texas Tech, just like every other team he has faced this season.

Griffin recorded career highs of 40 points and 23 rebounds as second-ranked Oklahoma cruised past the Red Raiders, 95-74, on Saturday for their 13th straight win.

Griffin became only the third player in Oklahoma history to record at least 40 points and 20 rebounds in a game, joining Wayman Tisdale and Alvan Adams. He also set a school record with his 22nd double-double of the season.

The 6-10 sophomore hit 16-of-22 shots - including an array of impressive dunks. He surpassed his previous career best of 35 points set earlier this season vs. Gardner-Webb.

Griffin had 22 points and 13 rebounds at intermission. It was an effort that had Texas Tech coach Pat Knight convinced he is not human.

"Have you guys ever seen the movie 'Terminator?' That is what this kid is like. That kid has no facial expressions," Knight said. "He just plays and every player that I put on him is like Sarah Connor. He just takes his time to kill them. That kid is good."

"It was special," Oklahoma coach Jeff Capel said of Griffin's performance. "It was really, really special. When I saw how they were guarding him early in the game I thought it could be a game where he could have a huge night."

Cade Davis hit five 3-pointers and finished with 17 points for the Sooners (25-1, 11-0 Big 12), who put the game away with a 23-5 run at the start of the second half.

Griffin scored 12 points during the decisive run, which was capped a 3-pointer by Davis that made it 72-45 with 11:32 to play.

Griffin threw down an alley-oop on a give-and-go with Warren during the run, then capped his day with a two-handed slam that started a three-point play.

"There are certain times," Griffin said when asked if he can dominate a game. "You always hear guys say they're in the zone. I felt like I was kind of in mine today. But like I always say, it goes back to my teammates hitting shots."

Griffin said the Sooners, who will likely earn a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament barring a slip up, can't get complacent.

"We have to keep being hungry, playing hard and not stop until we get our final goal," he said.

Nick Okorie scored a career-high 24 points for the Red Raiders (12-13, 2-8), who have lost nine of their last 11 games and four straight to Oklahoma.

"Our plan was to let him (Griffin) get his because he is just so good at finding guys," Knight said. "We weren't going to double down and try to stop the other guys. Problem was, is that we did that and we let Cade Davis get away from us."

The Red Raiders put up a fight early, as the Sooners did not take their first lead until more than 12 minutes into the game. Texas Tech shot 50 percent (16-of-32) and trailed by 10, 49-39, at halftime.

With the loss, Texas Tech fell below .500 on the season for the first time since former coach Bob Knight took over the program in 2001.

"We were down 10 and we start out the second half with a couple of bad shots and their lead got to 15, and we just fell apart," Knight said.