Oklahoma’s Umoja Gibson poured in 25 points but it wasn’t enough as St. Bonaventure edged the Sooners 70-68 Sunday night to eliminate OU from the NIT.

Gibson had 26 points on 10-for-17 shooting and that included six 3-pointers. Gibson had 16 of his points in the first 20 minutes. Jalen hill added 13 points for the Sooners.

OU was ahead by three points at halftime when Gibson sank a 3-pointer with three seconds remaining in the first half.

Midway through the second half, St. Bonaventure built a lead up to 54-46. OU had a 12-2 run to retake the lead.

“I hate to see it end for these guys,” said first-year OU coach Porter Moser. “I think anytime when you come to an end and you’re not going to be with the group anymore because we asked so much of this group. New coaching staff, new teammates coming together. We were in a tough stretch when EJ (Elijah Harkless) got hurt and came back and we asked them to regroup. Then we won five out of six going into this game. They gave everything they could.”

OU ended the year with a 19-16 record. The Sooners almost made it to the NCAA Tournament – they were the second team out of the selections.

In the opening NIT game in Norman on March 15, Gibson had a team high 28 points and OU breezed past Missouri State, 89-72.

Gibson had 17 points on 5-for-8 shooting in the first half. Gibson had four 3-pointers and was 3-for-3 from the line. OU’s Jordan Goldwire had 15 points on 7-for-11 shooting with a team-high eight assists.

Gibson tied an Oklahoma NIT single-game record with five 3-pointers and the Sooners finished with a NIT single-game best 12 threes, eclipsing the previous mark of nine set against Michigan State, March 17, 1993.

The Sooners had to play past the disappointment of missing the NCAA Tournament.

“They should be proud of themselves, because it is a life lesson,” Moser said. “I said it the other night, I was gutted but I was more gutted for them. I should have a lot more in my career. Players have a limited number (of postseason opportunities). I was really heartbroken for them. It was really tough when they walked out of here and we have to turn around and play. We regrouped Monday and we just talked about the life lessons, and how you react when it doesn’t go your way. That is what character is.”