No. 19 Oklahoma pulls away for win over Providence

Field Level Media|published: Wed 6th December, 01:34 2023

Dec 5, 2023; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Providence Friars forward Rich Barron (10) drives against Oklahoma Sooners guard Javian McCollum (2) during the first half at Lloyd Noble Center. credits: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports

Javian McCollum scored 19 points as No. 19 Oklahoma beat Providence 72-51 on Tuesday in Norman, Okla., in a Big East-Big 12 Battle game.

The Sooners (8-0) extended their best start to a season since 2015-16, when they made a run to the Final Four after a 12-0 start.

The game was close until late, when Oklahoma ripped off a 14-0 run over a stretch of nearly five minutes to put the game away with less than four minutes remaining.

After starting just 2-for-12 from the field to open the second half, the Sooners heated up.

Oklahoma followed that cold stretch by hitting 12 of its next 17 shots.

While the Sooners heated up, Providence's shooting went cold.

After the Friars took the lead with just over 14 minutes remaining, they went on a 2-of-14 stretch as Oklahoma took control.

Milos Uzan added 17 points, 12 rebounds and four steals for the Sooners. Uzan scored 10 of his points in the second half. Otega Oweh added 13 points, and Sam Godwin, returning from a one-game absence due to illness, scored 12 in the win.

Oklahoma dominated on the boards, outrebounding Providence 40-23.

Devin Carter led the Friars (7-2) with 17 points, while Josh Oduro added 15 points, six rebounds and five assists. The result snapped Providence's four-game winning streak.

The Friars managed just one offensive rebound and were outscored 16-2 in second-chance points.

Oklahoma shot 46.7 percent from the floor, while Providence made 40.4 percent of its field-goal attempts.

The Friars trailed for much of the game but grabbed the lead for the first time with a 9-0 run early in the second half.

Oklahoma started out hot from the field, hitting four of its first five shots to take a 12-0 lead just four minutes into the game.

The Friars managed just three shots in the stretch, but Carter got them back into the game with 11 consecutive points himself, hitting a trio of 3-pointers as Providence cut the deficit to one in just over three minutes.

No other Providence player scored until there was 9:57 left in the first half.

—Field Level Media

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