No. 19 Oklahoma pulls away in 2nd half for 72-51 win over Providence
Oklahoma guard Javian McCollum (2) shoots in front of Providence guard Devin Carter (22) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023, in Norman, Okla. Credit: AP/Nate Billings
NORMAN, Okla. — Javian McCollum scored 19 points and Milos Uzan added 17 points and 12 rebounds as No. 19 Oklahoma limited Providence to 20 second-half points in a 72-51 win on Tuesday night.
The Sooners (8-0) scored 40 points in the paint, forced 15 turnovers and outrebounded the Friars 40-23, including a 10-1 edge in offensive rebounds.
“We wanted to get fast-break points off our defense and offensive rebounds,” Sooners coach Porter Moser said. “We had 16 second-chance points, and I thought we did a good job on the offensive glass against them.”
Devin Carter scored 17 points and Josh Oduro added 15 for Providence, which shot 40% from the field for the game and 33% after halftime, connecting on 9 of 27 shots.
McCollum scored 13 in the first half to lift the Sooners to a 35-31 halftime lead. Providence (7-2) pulled ahead 41-40 early in the second half before the Sooners outscored the Friars 32-10 over the next 14 minutes.
“They were taking long shots and (we were getting) long rebounds ... rebounds were just coming to us,” Uzan said. “We were boxing out.”
Oklahoma scored the game’s first 12 points but the Friars cut the lead to 12-11 on three 3-point shots and a pair of free throws by Carter, who led Providence with 13 points in the first half.
Providence guard Devin Carter (22) shoots against Oklahoma forward Sam Godwin, right, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023, in Norman, Okla. Credit: AP/Nate Billings
The Sooners, behind two 3-pointers from McCollum, went on an 8-0 run to extend the lead to 20-11. After the game, Providence coach Kim English compared the junior to NBA Hall of Fame guard Allen Iverson.
Bryce Hopkins, the Friars’ leading scorer, got into the act with a contested layup and a dunk to pull Providence within 23-18 with 7:22 left. Hopkins finished with eight points.
Carter also showed his defensive ability, blocking a layup attempt and a 3-point shot attempt on successive Oklahoma possessions.
The Sooners climbed six spots to No. 19 in the latest Associated Press Top 25 after defeating Arkansas-Pine Bluff last week in front of a record number of students inside McCasland Field House.
Oklahoma guard Otega Oweh shoots during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Providence, Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023, in Norman, Okla. Credit: AP/Nate Billings
Moser called on the students to return to Lloyd Noble Center, a larger venue, for Tuesday’s game.
“Home court advantage. That’s what it’s about,” he said. “You don’t have great Top 20 teams without a home court advantage, and I thought the least seven minutes ... they were great. That’s fun and that’s fun to see. It energizes everybody, especially in a physical game like that. I thought they really provided a spark for us (tonight), that crowd.”
Oklahoma had lost four previous Big East-Big 12 Battle games prior to Tuesday night’s contest.
UP NEXT
Oklahoma: Plays Arkansas in the Crimson and Cardinal Classic in Tulsa at 3 p.m. Saturday.
Providence: Hosts Brown at 11 p.m. Sunday.
