Sooners survive back and forth battle in Bahamas, besting Providence 79-77 to stay undefeated
By Chip Rouse
Kobe Elvis scored a game-high 246 points and true freshman Jeremiah Fears reached double figures for the fourth time in five games as Oklahoma came from behind in the second half to defeat Providence 79-77 in an opening round game in the Battle 4 Atlantis Thanksgiving holiday tournament in the Bahamas on Wednesday.
Elvis, a transfer from Dayton, made 10 of 14 field goal attempts, including three of five three-pointers to lead the Sooners in scoring for the second time in five games. Fears contributed 20 points with a dozen of those coming from the free throw line. The Friars hit 9 of 22 from behind the three-point arch in the first half, but just three of 11 in the second half.
Four Providence starters scored at least 13 points, with senior guard Wesley Cardet Jr. leading the way with 17 points.
Oklahoma (5-0) started out the game hitting four of its first five shots and taking a 8-0 lead before Providence caught fire and went on a 17-8 run to go in front 17-16. The Friars (5-1) held the lead the rest of the half and led by two, 34-32 at halftime. Twenty-seven of Providence's 34 first-half points came on nine three-pointers.
The Friars maintained the advantage, but by no more than five points, until seven minutes had gone by in the second half, but Oklahoma sophomore Luke Northweather drained the first of two consecutive three-pointers at the 13:22 mark of the second half to gave the Sooners a 46-44 lead, their first since the 10:10 mark in the first half.
The Sooners gradually extended their advantage and led by eight points on a two-point basket by Elvis with just uner five minutes remaining in the game. A layup by Duke Miles with 46 seconds to go gave OU its biggest lead of the game at 75-66. Over the next 43 seconds, the Friars outscored Oklahoma 9-4 to draw within four points, 79-75. Then with three seconds to go, the Sooners committed a cardinal substitution infraction that nearly cost them the game.
Oklahoma was charged with a technical foul when a substitute entered the game before being officially checked in. Providence was awarded two technical free throws and the ball out of bounds. Providence guard Jayden Pierre made two free throws to cut the Sooner advantage to 79-77, but Pierre's 30-foot three-point attempt rattled off the rim as the final seconds ticked off preserving the Oklahoma win.
The Sooners move on to face the winner of the game between Arizona and Davidson in the winners bracket of the Battle 4 Atlantis.