Men's Basketball
Oklahoma’s hot shooting too much for Hogs’ defense in Tulsa
Arkansas trimmed a 15-point deficit to three with 9:55 to play, but could not stop Oklahoma’s hot shooting.
TULSA, Okla. — Arkansas trimmed a 15-point deficit to three with 9:55 to play, but could not stop Oklahoma’s hot shooting from 3-point range as the Sooners pulled away late for an 88-66 victory at the BOK Center.
The No. 10-12 Razorbacks suffered their first loss of the season (9-1) while Oklahoma improves to 8-2.
Arkansas made five straight free throws to make the score 57-54 midway through the second half. The teams went back-and-forth over the next minute and the Sooners led by four (61-57) with 8:57 left off a Davonte Davis jumper.
Oklahoma then went on an 11-0 run, thanks to three consecutive 3-pointers and never looked back.
Oklahoma finished the game making 13-of-22 (.591) from long range and had 18 assists on its 28 made baskets.
Davis led all scorers with a career-high 26 points, making a career-high four 3-pointers. In fact, Davis entered the game with just six career triples made (two last season and four this season).
The Sooners won the battle on the boards, 36-29, and had all five starters score in double figures. Elijah Harkless led the way with a double-double (22 points and 11 rebounds).
Arkansas returns to action next Saturday for its annual trip to North Little Rock’s Simmons Bank Arena. The Razorback will face Hofstra at 7 pm and the game will not be televised nor streamed.
FIRST HALF: Arkansas: 33 – Oklahoma: 39
• Oklahoma raced out to a 7-0 run to force an Arkansas timeout at 16:47. The lead went to 10-0 at the first media timeout.
• Arkansas broke the drought with a Davonte Davis 3-pointer at 15:11.
• Oklahoma hit 7 of its first 11 3-pointers and finished the half 8-of-13.
• The Sooners led by as many as 15 (35-20) before the Razorbacks went on an 11-2 run to get to within six (37-31). Davis scored four in the run, as did Stanley Umude.
• Au’Diese Toney made two free throws with 2.9 seconds left for the 39-33 halftime score.
• Davis was 3-of-4 from 3-point range and led Arkansas with 11 first-half points.
SECOND HALF: Arkansas: 33 – Oklahoma: 49
• Arkansas scored to open the second half, but the Sooners went on an 11-0 run to lead 50-35 at 17:09.
• Arkansas got to within five (52-47) thanks to back-to-back dunks from Stanley Umude and Au’Diese Toney.
• Oklahoma sank three 3’s to once again lead by 15 (72-57) with 3:45 left.
GAME NOTES
• Arkansas’ starting lineup was Davonte Davis – JD Notae – Au’Diese Toney – Jaylin Williams – Connor Vanover for the tenth straight game.
• Arkansas won the tip.
• Oklahoma’s Jordan Goldwire scored the game’s first points at 19:16., a runner in the lane at 19:43. Arkansas’s first points came at 15:11 on a Davonte Davis 3-pointer.
• Chris Lykes was the first Razorback sub.
This was the third time Arkansas trailed at halftime this season. The Hogs were down 8 versus Mercer in the season opener and down 4 to Cincinnati.
• Arkansas had its 17-game, regular-season win streak snapped. Ironically, the Razorbacks’ last regular-season loss also came in Oklahoma, a four-point loss in Stillwater versus Oklahoma State.
• Arkansas was good at the free throw line, going 17-of-18. Davis was a perfect 4-of-4.
• JD Notae scored 13 points. He is the only Razorback to score in double figures in all 10 games.
Information from Arkansas Communications is included in this story.
