NORMAN, Okla. (AP) – No. 19 Oklahoma rebounded from its first loss of the season Sunday as Isaiah Cousins scored 20 points in the Sooners’ 90-68 win over Northwestern State.
Oklahoma (2-1) came out flat against Northwestern State (2-2) before seizing control of the game during the final 10 minutes of the first half, extending a one-point lead to a 50-30 advantage by halftime.
Four other players – Buddy Hield (16), Ryan Spangler (13), Jordan Woodard (13) and Dinjiyl Walker (13) – scored in double figures for the Sooners, who will head to the Bahamas later this week to play in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament. Oklahoma lost by two to Creighton on Wednesday, 65-63.
Cousins had 15 points, including 3 3-pointers in the first half against the Demons, and matched his career high for made 3-pointers by hitting 4 of 5.
Zeek Woodley led Northwestern State with 26 points. The Demons crashed the boards and played scrappy defense, taking advantage of Oklahoma’s early sluggishness. Northwestern State was within 16-15 after Woodley went 1-of-2 from the free-throw line with 10:50 left in the first half.
A 3-pointer by Walker started the Sooners’ game-deciding run, in which they scored 10 straight points in a minute and 47 seconds near the end of the half to build its lead to 20.
The Demons’ 13-2 second-half spurt, capped by a 3-pointer by Marvin Frazier, put them within 73-61 with 9:04 left. But Walker and Frank Booker answered with 3-pointers for Oklahoma. Frazier finished with 11 points for Northwestern State.
TIP-INS
Northwestern State: The Demons started their current road trip Thursday with a 10-0 run in the final 2:19 to escape with an 89-79 win over first-year NAIA program LSU-Alexandria. Northwestern State’s home gym was booked that night by volleyball teams preparing for the Southland Conference tournament, so coach Mike McConathy – who thought his team needed an extra tuneup game – paid LSU-Alexandria $4,000 to host the game.
Oklahoma: The Sooners’ last win over Northwestern State in November 2012 was career No. 500 for coach Lon Kruger. The 69-65 nail-biter was the closest result in the three times the teams have played this decade. Oklahoma leads the series 5-0.
UP NEXT
Northwestern State will visit Texas Tech on Tuesday.
Oklahoma will face UCLA on Wednesday in the first round of the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas.
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