Oklahoma Basketball: Sooners Use Big Second Half to Run Away From Monmouth
No. 12 Oklahoma needed a late surge to pull ahead of Central Arkansas on Wednesday, and Sunday was more of the same. The Sooners (12-1) rebounded from a slow first half to topple Monmouth (7-6) 72-56.
The Sooners' non-conference slate closes as a smashing success with just one loss, and Porter Moser's squad is off to its best start since 2015-16 — Oklahoma's Final Four season. This team has a chance to be special, but the real test starts during Big 12 play. Only the best teams survive the gauntlet of conference play.
Jalon Moore put on a show in Oklahoma's win, turning in his best performance of the season. The high-flying forward totaled 21 points, six rebounds and two blocks, recording a handful of highlight plays. His efficiency was impressive, as he went 8-of-10 from the floor and 3-of-4 from 3-point range.
Moore's 21 points set a new career-high.
Otega Oweh added 13 points of his own, while Javian McCollum totaled 11 points, eight assists and three steals. Milos Uzan chipped in 10 points and eight assists, too.
Despite the back-and-forth games, Oklahoma’s contests against UCA and Monmouth could not have been more opposite. Against the Bears, Oklahoma’s offense was red hot but the defense couldn’t find an answer. On Sunday against the Hawks, Oklahoma’s offense was ice cold in the first half.
Heading into the break, the Sooners led 32-28 despite shooting just 38.5% from the floor and 33.3% from 3-point range. That number would’ve been even lower if Uzan and Oweh didn’t drill momentum triples to end the half. Monmouth was leading, but back-to-back 3-point buckets from the two sophomores gave Oklahoma some breathing room at halftime.
The Sooners looked like a rejuvenated team to start the second half, after a 7-2 run capped off by a Moore triple. Oklahoma led 39-30 at the 17:54 mark. Monmouth followed it up with a quick 5-0 run of its own, though, and the lead was right back down to four.
With 13:05 left in the second half, Monmouth converted on a transition dunk to take the lead. The Sooners quickly responded, though.
John Hugley IV converted a basket under the hoop followed by two massive triples. Oweh nailed an and-one 3-point attempt and Le’Tre Darthard knocked down a transition triple pushing Oklahoma’s lead to 50-42.
The quick run ended up turning into a massive 17-1 run as the Sooners buried Monmouth in the second half. Back-to-back-to-back dunks from Oweh and Moore twice brought the house down in the Lloyd Noble Center. Oklahoma led 58-43 with 8:48 left in the game.
Monmouth would bounce back, hitting a few 3-pointers and getting to the free throw line, but the Hawks never pulled within single digits again. The Sooners stayed in control down the stretch and closed it out behind two Moore triples and another highlight dunk.
Next up for the Sooners, conference play begins. Oklahoma is set to take on Iowa State at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 6.
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