OU head coach Porter Moser offered an update Friday regarding junior guard Javian McCollum’s status for Saturday’s game at Texas.

“It'll be a game-time decision with Javian based on his pain tolerance,” Moser said. “So, we'll see how that feels. But he's progressing for sure.”

McCollum, the Sooners’ leading scorer who averages 13.6 points per game, missed Tuesday night’s 74-71 overtime win over Cincinnati due to a shoulder injury suffered during a light practice on Monday. Moser said Tuesday the X-rays came back clean.

“(It was) crazy,” Moser said. “We were gonna go about 15 to 20 minutes live on some offensive things in the game plan and 15 to 20 minutes live on defense to go over the game plan. Then there's a lot of walkthroughs and a lot of shooting, but because we took the day before physically off Sunday after how physical the Houston game was. So, we had to get a little work in and it was just kind of a freak thing on his shoulder.

“It just was sore in the morning and he couldn't have a range of motion. So we're not gonna push it if he has no range of motion so we'll know more. We'll see, I mean everything is structurally fine. … It's just getting that range of motion and strength back.”

OU seemed to struggle offensively early without McCollum against the Bearcats, allowing a 14-3 run in the first five minutes. The Sooners (20-10, 8-9 Big 12) settled in but will need their most explosive offensive weapon against the Longhorns (19-11, 8-9) at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Moody Center in Austin on ESPN.

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Sooners face tough road test vs. Texas in final regular-season contest

OU closes its regular season Big 12 era against the team it will move to the SEC with next season.

Guard Max Abmas dropped 22 points when Texas defeated the Sooners 75-60 earlier this season on Jan. 23 in Norman. Abmas has been an emphasis for Moser’s team this week during practice and film sessions as he’s one of the most prolific scorers in the country.

“You’ve got to play the right way, you’ve got to execute on offense,” Moser said. “You’ve got to really have awareness on defense, awareness where Max is at all times. … You want to play the right way and have awareness to be playing well, you have to beat any team in the Big 12 and you want that momentum going into the tournament.”

A win Saturday would give OU confidence heading into the Big 12 Tournament next week in Kansas City. The Sooners have struggled in the conference tournament since the early 2000s under Kelvin Sampson, but Moser coached them to an upset victory over No. 2-seeded Baylor two seasons ago.

OU has proved it can compete with any team in the league and Moser is looking to get all of his players back healthy so he can have his most consistent group on the floor.

“We felt that (we’ve been) short-handed,” Moser said. “Obviously John (Hugley IV has) been out, Javian and then (Milos Uzan) fouled out (against Cincinnati) and to find a way in crazy lineups that we don’t even practice with, gives you confidence. It gives you confidence when you find ways to win. And going into a tournament, you’ve got to play well.

“You’ve gotta get that going. It's another opportunity for us to do that against a very good team obviously, but we're trying to play well and get guys back.”

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Jacolb Cole improving behind scenes

Moser also discussed former three-star recruit and freshman forward Jacolb Cole’s progress in the program during his redshirt year.

“(He) works out every single day, he's gotten stronger and he’s embracing what you need to do,” Moser said. “I've had a lot of guys sit out at Loyola that have just gotten better. Now, it's hard because no one sits out. But in the past, guys sit out and you're just thinking about the next year and you’re just logging in time. Jacolb has embraced every day getting better. He's stronger, he's bigger.”

Cole was the No. 7 prospect in the state of Missouri in the 2023 recruiting class, per 247Sports’ composite rankings. Originally from Texas, Cole played at Link Academy in Branson, Missouri.

Cole and four-star freshman Kaden Cooper were expected to show flashes of potential this season and are considered key pieces for the future of Moser’s program.

During times when the Sooners have struggled this season, fans have taken to social media asking to see Cooper. Cooper has appeared in just 13 games, including a season-high 14 minutes vs. Texas State on Nov. 14.

While Cole continues to work on his game, Moser is confident the year off will help his game improve and better translate to the college level by the start of next season. Cole also used this season to rehab his knee following an ACL tear a season ago.

“He's got that knee healthy,” Moser said. “You don't see any lagging effects of that and he runs, he's on the scout team with tremendous confidence trying to give it to our first team and second team all day every day. I couldn't be happier with his progression and his mentality and his attitude during his redshirt year.”

OU at Texas

TIPOFF: 1 p.m. Saturday at Moody Center in Austin, Texas (ESPN)

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU basketball's Javian McCollum 'game-time decision' vs. Texas