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Prolific offense is the reputation by which No. 8 Oklahoma lives, but Bob Stoops doesnt mind hearing about how far his defense has come in a few short weeks as the Sooners pack their bags for a Big 12 showdown at 10th-ranked West Virginia on Saturday night.In a 66-59 win at Texas Tech on Oct. 22, the Sooners gave up 854 yards of total offense.Since, Oklahoma has given up an average of 321.4 yards per game in three wins.We havent changed defenses, Stoops said. Guys are playing better.That improvement needs to keep up for the Sooners to have success this week when they travel to West Virginia in a game that will go a long way toward determining the Big 12 champion.The most glaring improvement has been in the secondary, where cornerbacks Jordan Thomas and Jordan Parker have settled in after a rough first part of the season.Thomas, who was strong a year ago as a sophomore, struggled to maintain his success early, being repeatedly beaten deep by opposing receivers.Parker, a freshman, has been the latest to step into the other cornerback role after three other players started there early in the season.Stoops said the improvement goes deeper.It isnt just the secondary, Stoops said. Its the linebackers, everybody. Its been -- it was really solid the other day. I say the linebackers are a big part of it.Stoops specifically mentioned Oklahomas two inside linebackers -- Jordan Evans and Emmanuel Beal -- for their improvement.Evans had two interceptions and two sacks last week.It has been a complete U-turn from that game, Evans said, pointing back to that game against Tech. Our intensity, our effort. Guys are making more plays. The No. 1 thing is guys are having more fun doing it. Guys are wanting to get back out there each and every Saturday and wanting to get to practice on Monday to get better and to keep it going.Evans said while the Tech game wasnt necessarily a must for improvement, its helped focus the defense in the weeks since.It should never have to happen, Evans said. We should have been doing that since Day One. The only reason I think it was good is we were still able to come out with a win in that game. Weve kind of flipped out defense around. It was a good wakeup call for us.One way the Sooners can effectively quiet West Virginias offense is to eat the clock with a deadly running game.Samaje Perine ran for 242 yards and four touchdowns in Oklahomas last game in Morgantown, his first career game with 100 or more yards on the ground. And tailback Joe Mixon is averaging 6.87 yards per carry during his career, the most in the Bob Stoops era among players with 100 or more carries.Mixon is spending several snaps per game split wide of the formation, ala DeMarco Murray, to help get both players on the field and dictate matchups.Its probably not quite as striking now because more people do it, Stoops said. I still think its effective and it still gives defenses some pause when youve got a linebacker thats way out on the numbers in a space where hes not used to operating. Just Demarco (Murray) along with Joe (Mixon) have such exceptional hands and an ability to get open. It works for us.Mixon enters the week second in the Big 12 in rushing with 937 yards.West Virginia has a very balanced rushing attack of its own with Justin Crawford, Rushel Shell III and Kennedy McKoy all averaging between 67-51 yards per game. This weeks effort might depend on injuries. Shell was sidelined last week at Texas and McKoy carried 25 times for 73 yards to be recognized by WVU coach as the Mountaineers offensive champion.The Mountaineers average about 211 yards on the ground while Oklahoma surrenders an average of 132.4. Last week, the Sooners struggled to slow down Baylors rushing attack early, surrendering 212 yards to the Bears.Perhaps more pressing for WVU is what the Mountaineers will get out of their quarterback.OU allows upwards of 300 passing yards per game, but in part those numbers are a byproduct of grabbing big leads and playing a softer coverage in the second half.WVUs Skyler Howard got away with one at Texas, leading the team to victory despite throwing three interceptions. Howard was 21 of 35 for 269 yards, guiding the offense to just one touchdown after they scored a quick 17 points in the first 15:11 of the game.Oklahoma leads 6-2 overall and 2-0 in Morgantown. The Mountaineers have not beaten the Sooners since they joined the Big 12.Anthony Sherman Jersey . The 20-year-old Pelicans big man glanced up and smiled widely at the well-wishers -- a fitting end to a day he wont soon forget. Davis responded to his selection earlier in the day as a Western Conference All-Star with 26 points and 10 rebounds, and the New Orleans Pelicans overcame a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves 98-91 on Friday night. LeSean McCoy Jersey . It was the second consecutive win for the Pacers (2-5), who lost their first five preseason games. Jeff Teague led the Hawks (1-5) with 17 points and eight assists and Al Horford had 12 points and seven rebounds. Mike Scott scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half. http://www.prochiefsauthentic.com/Youth-Cameron-Erving-Elite-Jersey/ . The Oilers come in having lost five in a row (0-4-1) and 16 of their last 20 games, dropping a 2-1 decision to the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday. Armani Watts Jersey . After the whistle, Thornton skated the length of the ice, pulled Orpik to the ice from behind and punched him in the face several times. Mitchell Schwartz Jersey . Ibaka equaled a career high with 20 rebounds, adding four blocked shots and 15 points as the Thunder smothered the Milwaukee Bucks offence in a 92-79 victory Saturday night.OAKLAND, Calif. -- Mark Trumbo hit a grand slam for his major league-leading 32nd homer and drove in five runs as the Baltimore Orioles beat the Oakland Athletics 9-6 Thursday to avoid a four-game sweep.The Orioles had been shut out for 17 straight innings and lost their lead in the AL East following three consecutive one-run losses before Trumbo sparked them.The All-Star slugger hit an RBI single in a three-run fourth, then connected the next inning for his third career grand slam.Chris Tillman (15-4) allowed two runs over seven innings for his first victory since July 21. He is Baltimores first 15-game winner since Bud Norris and Wei-Yin Chen in 2014.Zach Britton retired three batters for his AL-leading 35th save this season and his 37th consecutive dating to last season. The As loaded the bases in the ninth after a replay overturn before Britton got Danny Valencia to ground out to end it.Andrew Triggs (0-1) was the eighth different starter in eight games for the As.Triggs was pressed into duty because of Oaklands injury-riddled rotation. He gave up three runs in four innings.Adam Jones homered for the Orioles and Pedro Alvarez drove in three runs.Ryon Healy and Max Muncy homered for the As. Yonder Alonso doubled in two runs.STOP, DROP AND ROLLIn addition tto his home run, Healy also made a stellar defensive play.dddddddddddd The rookie third baseman made a diving stop of Manny Machados hard-hit grounder in the first, then tumbled and rolled as he hit the infield dirt. Healy did a second 360-turn as he stood up and threw to first for the out.TRAINERS ROOMOrioles: SS J.J. Hardy was given the day off, his first since July 24th. ... Manager Buck Showalter said a decision will be made soon whether to put OF Steve Pearce on the disabled list. Pearce received a cortisone injection in his right forearm earlier in the week but continues to be bothered by a flexor mass strain.Athletics: RHP Jesse Hahn (strained right shoulder) will throw in the next few days and is likely to make one rehab start while on the disabled list before returning to the big league club.UP NEXTOrioles: RHP Dylan Bundy (5-3) pitches against the Giants in San Francisco on Friday. It will be his second career start in an interleague game.Athletics: LHP Sean Manaea (3-7) faces Seattle in the opener of a three-game series in Oakland on Friday. He is winless over his previous six outings despite a 2.58 ERA during that span. ' ' '